Swakop Uranium is planning to develop a new three-pit uranium mine and processing plant within the Namib-Naukluft National Park in the Erongo Region, with a proposed mining licence covering approximately 130 square kilometres.
The project, known as Holland’s Dome, would have a direct development footprint of about 50 square kilometres and a processing plant designed to handle 12 million tonnes of material annually.
Details of the proposed development are contained in a draft environmental scoping report dated 2 November 2026, prepared by SLR Environmental Consulting Namibia on behalf of Swakop Uranium, which operates the Husab Uranium Mine.
The company is seeking to convert portions of its existing exploration licences, EPL3439 and EPL3138, into a mining licence to develop Holland’s Dome, situated south of Husab’s current mining licence ML171.
The proposed development would involve three open pits identified as HD-West, HD-East and GV-South, where uranium-bearing material would be extracted through conventional drilling, blasting, loading and truck haulage.
The extracted material would be processed at an on-site plant to produce uranium oxide, with the project also requiring two waste rock dumps, a tailings storage facility, ore stockpiles and supporting infrastructure.
Additional facilities would include a power substation, water reservoir, explosives storage, fuel storage, warehouses, sewage treatment facilities, administrative offices and a medical clinic.
The proposed mine represents a potential expansion of Swakop Uranium’s mining activities in the region, although the company must first secure environmental clearance and a mining licence before development can proceed.
According to the report, the environmental clearance application was submitted to the relevant authorities on 19 October 2026, with the environmental assessment currently at the scoping stage.
The Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy can only issue the proposed mining licence after the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has granted an environmental clearance certificate.
The proposed development’s location within the Namib-Naukluft National Park is among the issues requiring assessment, particularly because the area is currently designated for conservation.
The report identifies potential impacts on vegetation, wildlife habitats, groundwater, surface water, archaeological resources and the surrounding landscape.
Mining activities could also result in increased dust emissions, noise, vibration and radiation exposure, all of which will require specialist investigations before the authorities make a decision.
The report notes that a previous archaeological reconnaissance survey identified 81 sites in the wider project area, including remains associated with historical settlement and transport activities.
Groundwater contamination and the possible lowering of groundwater levels through mine dewatering are also among the risks identified for further investigation.
Specialist studies will assess the potential movement of contaminants from mining waste facilities, the effects of groundwater abstraction and the possibility of radioactive materials entering the surrounding environment.
The environmental assessment will also examine the potential effects of mining on tourism, biodiversity and the existing conservation value of the national park.
However, the report identifies employment creation, skills development and increased economic activity as potential benefits of the proposed development.
Public consultation underway
Swakop Uranium has opened the draft scoping report for public comment between 2 and 30 November 2026.
The consultation process will include engagement with government authorities, Swakop River plot owners, nearby tourism operators and other interested parties.
Public meetings are planned for Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Arandis, while copies of the report have been made available at the Swakopmund Public Library and Arandis Community Library.
Comments received during the consultation period will be incorporated into the final scoping report before the project proceeds to the detailed environmental impact assessment stage.
The proposed mine’s development will depend on the outcome of these assessments and subsequent decisions by the relevant government authorities.
