The developers of the Kokoseb Gold Project are planning an approximately 130-kilometre pipeline to bring desalinated water from the Trekkopje Mine Water Supply Scheme to the proposed mine, as the project advances efforts to secure the water infrastructure required for construction and eventual operations.
The proposed pipeline would be an approximately 300-millimetre diameter steel pipeline, predominantly installed above ground, running from the existing Trekkopje water system to Kokoseb’s Mining Licence 274 in the Erongo Region.
According to a background information document prepared by Environmental Compliance Consultancy, the infrastructure would transfer desalinated water originating from the Orano Erongo Desalination Plant, which currently supplies Trekkopje.
NamWater would purchase the desalinated water from Orano at the Trekkopje Mine Water Supply Scheme before supplying it to Kokoseb through the new pipeline. The pipeline would, however, form only part of a broader water-security strategy being developed for the gold mine.
The environmental screening estimates that Kokoseb’s mining operations will require about 1.2 million cubic metres of water a year, although the proposed desalinated-water pipeline may supply only part of that requirement. The design could accommodate additional capacity through a larger pipeline or additional pumping stations.
Mandarin Investments, the proponent of the Kokoseb project, is a joint venture between Damaran Exploration, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wia Gold, and state-owned Epangelo Mining. Environmental Compliance Consultancy has been appointed to undertake the environmental and social impact assessment for the water infrastructure.
The pipeline development would include booster pump stations, flow meters, control valves, maintenance holes and water-storage reservoirs, while substantial electricity infrastructure is also planned to keep water moving along the route.
A new 11kV overhead power line is proposed between the planned NamPower Kokoseb 132kV metering station and booster stations closer to the mine, while a second 33kV line would run from the existing NamPower Trekkopje substation to booster stations closer to Trekkopje. The power lines are expected to be owned and operated by Erongo RED.
The project documentation says a secure and uninterrupted electricity supply is necessary because the pipeline will be critical to both construction and mining operations. Solar photovoltaic power with battery storage and diesel generation were considered, but the assessment concluded that grid-connected electricity would be substantially more cost-effective and provide more reliable continuous pumping.
Three possible pipeline routes were assessed. Route 3 was eliminated early because it would be longer and require nine booster stations compared with seven for the other routes, increasing both power demand and operating costs.
Route 1 provides the shortest and most direct connection between Trekkopje and Kokoseb but faces a more complicated crossing of the Omaruru River. Route 2 potentially offers better river-crossing and terrain conditions north of the river, although its greater length and hydraulic profile would increase pressure in parts of the pipeline.
The preferred design is for the pipeline to remain above ground because this would reduce excavation, construction time and disturbance of subsurface features. However, sections could be buried or realigned where necessary to protect environmentally sensitive areas, heritage sites and wildlife corridors.
The pipeline will cross the ephemeral Omaruru River, making watercourse impacts one of the issues to be assessed before construction. Activities involving riparian vegetation, excavation or permanent water infrastructure within 100 metres of a watercourse would require approval from the Department of Water Affairs.
Kokoseb is also considering groundwater and other bulk-water sources rather than relying entirely on desalinated water. Options investigated include the Okombahe Water Supply Scheme, the Omaruru Alluvial Plain wellfield and the Ozondati Water Supply Scheme.
The document says the Okombahe scheme has an estimated surplus yield of about 292,170 cubic metres annually, while the Omaruru Alluvial Plain aquifer has estimated storage of about 52.5 million cubic metres. Ozondati has an estimated surplus yield of about 220,000 cubic metres annually. Separate environmental approval processes are envisaged for some of these sources.
NamWater also investigated supplying Kokoseb from Swakoppoort Dam, but found it economically unfeasible because of the cost of connecting the mine and upgrading existing bulk-water infrastructure. A possible Sebraskop Dam development on the Ugab River was similarly rejected because of high capital costs and because its development timetable would not match Kokoseb’s mine-development schedule.
The water pipeline requires separate environmental clearance from the mine approval process. The document says the final environmental and social impact assessment for mining activities on ML274 was submitted to the authorities on 19 March 2026, but excluded the bulk-water infrastructure and abstraction activities.
NamWater is expected to operate, inspect and maintain the pipeline throughout Kokoseb’s life of mine under a final agreement with the developer. The infrastructure could remain in NamWater’s hands after mine closure if other users can be identified, rather than being dismantled.
