The developers of the Kokoseb Gold Project are moving to secure two major water supply sources as the 2.93-million-ounce gold deposit advances towards development in Namibia’s Erongo Region.
Mandarin Investments, the joint venture company established by Damaran Exploration, a wholly owned subsidiary of Australian Securities Exchange-listed Wia Gold, and state-owned Epangelo Mining Namibia, has initiated separate environmental approval processes for the project’s bulk water infrastructure.
The company is pursuing water supply options from both the Omaruru Alluvial Plain aquifer and the Orano Erongo Desalination Plant, reflecting the scale of infrastructure planning now underway for what is expected to become one of Namibia’s largest new gold mines.
The applications represent a significant step in the project’s development planning and indicate the scale of infrastructure required to support a large-scale mining operation. Water supply has emerged as a critical component of Kokoseb’s long-term development strategy, with the project assessing multiple sources to ensure supply security throughout construction and operations.
The latest proposal focuses on developing a dedicated groundwater supply scheme from the Omaruru Alluvial Plain, one of the largest alluvial aquifer systems in the region. Under the plan, approximately 15 production boreholes would be developed and connected to the mine through a 105-kilometre above-ground bulk water pipeline.
Associated infrastructure would include collector pipelines, booster pump stations, storage reservoirs, flow metres, control valves and a dedicated electricity distribution network to power water abstraction and pumping operations.
The project would also require the construction of a new 33-kilovolt overhead powerline linking the proposed NamPower Kokoseb metering station to the wellfield and associated pumping infrastructure.
The groundwater development programme includes the installation of borehole pumps, headworks, access tracks, collector pipelines and pumping facilities necessary to transfer water from the Omaruru Alluvial Plain to the proposed mine site.
The Omaruru Alluvial Plain has emerged as one of the most attractive groundwater options under consideration for the project. Studies cited in the environmental documentation estimate that the aquifer contains approximately 52.5 million cubic metres of groundwater, making it one of the most significant groundwater resources supporting industrial development in the region.
The environmental assessment process will evaluate the implications of large-scale groundwater abstraction and the associated infrastructure required to transport water over long distances to the mine.
At the same time, Mandarin Investments is advancing a second and equally important water supply initiative based on desalinated seawater.
Environmental Compliance Consultancy has been appointed to undertake an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for a proposed bulk water pipeline that would transport desalinated water from the Trekkopje Mine Water Supply Scheme to Kokoseb.
The Trekkopje system is supplied by the Orano Erongo Desalination Plant, one of Namibia’s most important strategic water assets, originally developed to support uranium mining operations along the central coast.
Under the proposal, NamWater would purchase desalinated water from Orano at the Trekkopje Mine Water Supply Scheme and transport it to Kokoseb through an approximately 130-kilometre above-ground steel pipeline.
The infrastructure would include booster pump stations, storage reservoirs, control systems and new power supply infrastructure connected to both the NamPower Trekkopje substation and the proposed Kokoseb metering station. NamWater would be responsible for operating and maintaining the infrastructure throughout the mine’s life.
The desalinated water supply scheme is part of a broader water strategy rather than serving as the mine’s sole water source. Project documentation indicates that the objective is to reduce dependence on any single supply source while ensuring long-term water security throughout both the construction and operational phases of the mine.
The scale of planning underway reflects the anticipated requirements of what is expected to become one of Namibia’s most significant new mining developments.
According to the environmental documentation, the proposed desalinated water infrastructure is expected to meet the water requirements of approximately 1.2 million cubic metres per year.
However, final demand will depend on mine design, processing requirements, and the contribution of supplementary water sources. The possibility of future expansion has also been factored into the planning process.
Several alternative water supply options have been investigated during the development of Kokoseb’s water strategy.
These include the Okombahe Water Supply Scheme, the Ozondati Water Supply Scheme, Swakoppoort Dam and the proposed Sebraskop Dam. Studies found that some of these alternatives lacked sufficient capacity, were economically unfeasible or could not be developed within the project’s intended timeline.
As a result, the Omaruru Alluvial Plain and Trekkopje-Orano options have emerged as the most viable long-term solutions currently under assessment.
The progression of the water infrastructure applications comes as Kokoseb continues to establish itself as one of Namibia’s most important undeveloped gold projects.
Located within Mining Licence 274, Kokoseb hosts a gold resource of 2.93 million ounces and is advancing through feasibility and permitting processes as Wia Gold and Epangelo seek to position it among Namibia’s next-generation producing mines.
The project has attracted increasing attention since resource growth established it as one of the largest recent gold discoveries in the country.
Mandarin Investments was established specifically to advance the project through development. The joint venture combines Wia Gold’s role as the discoverer and technical developer of the deposit with Epangelo Mining’s participation as the Namibian government’s mining investment company.
The partnership structure gives the project both international mining expertise and direct state participation as it progresses towards potential mine construction.
The water applications follow the submission of the final Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for mining activities on Mining Licence 274 to the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in March 2026.
However, the mine assessment excluded the bulk water infrastructure because separate environmental approvals are required for water abstraction, transfer and distribution schemes.
For Kokoseb’s developers, securing reliable long-term water supplies is now one of the most important prerequisites for future mine development.
The simultaneous pursuit of groundwater from the Omaruru Alluvial Plain and desalinated water from the Orano Erongo Desalination Plant demonstrates both the scale of the contemplated project and the effort being invested to ensure that future mining operations are supported by a diversified and secure water supply network throughout the mine’s life.
