The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called for additional groundwater investigations at Uranium One’s proposed Wings uranium project near Leonardville to establish whether chemical solutions used in mining can be prevented from spreading into neighbouring groundwater sources.
The agency found that Headspring Investments, the company developing the project, has not provided sufficient field evidence to demonstrate that the uranium-bearing Auob aquifer is adequately isolated from the overlying Kalahari aquifer, which contains potable groundwater.
The finding is among the most significant concerns raised in an independent technical review commissioned by the Namibian government to assess the environmental impact assessment and management plans for the proposed pilot uranium recovery operation in the Omaheke Region.
The IAEA identified 27 areas requiring improvement, but placed particular emphasis on demonstrating that mining solutions can be contained within the intended uranium-bearing formation before the company proceeds with chemical leaching.
The proposed operation would use in-situ leaching, a process in which chemical solutions are introduced into underground uranium-bearing formations to dissolve uranium before the resulting liquid is pumped to the surface for processing.
The method requires careful control of underground fluid movement to prevent the mining solution from migrating beyond the intended operating area.
“Demonstration of aquifer confinement and the ability to maintain hydraulic control are fundamental prerequisites for ISL operations. The Proponent’s current documentation asserts confinement but does not provide comprehensive empirical evidence to support this conclusion,” the IAEA states.
Separation between aquifers not demonstrated
The review found that Headspring’s environmental documentation relies partly on regional geological information and conceptual assumptions rather than sufficient measurements from the proposed mining site.
Of particular concern is the separation between the Auob aquifer, where uranium recovery is proposed, and the Kalahari aquifer above it.
The IAEA said the company must demonstrate that the geological formations separating these groundwater systems can prevent the movement of mining solutions between them.
The experts recommended installing additional monitoring wells in the overlying and underlying formations to measure groundwater pressure and identify possible hydraulic connections.
They also called for further investigations into geological faults and fractures that could provide pathways for underground fluids to move outside the intended mining area.
Existing and abandoned boreholes require closer examination because poorly sealed wells could also create connections between otherwise separated geological formations.
The review found that although the company’s documentation recognises the need for proper well construction and sealing, it does not provide sufficient technical detail on how well integrity would be verified under operating conditions.
Mining solutions must remain contained
Beyond demonstrating geological separation, the IAEA wants Headspring to provide stronger evidence that it can maintain hydraulic control throughout the pilot operation.
This involves managing underground pressure so that mining solutions remain within the designated uranium-bearing formation and can be recovered through pumping wells.
The experts found that the company’s modelling does not adequately account for all conditions that could influence underground fluid movement, including regional groundwater gradients, pressure changes and pumping activities outside the project area.
They recommended more detailed modelling and testing to establish how the system would respond under different operating conditions.
The IAEA also wants the company to demonstrate how it would detect and respond to any movement of mining solutions beyond the intended operating zone.
This would require clearly defined monitoring arrangements, warning thresholds and contingency procedures capable of identifying potential leakage before it affects surrounding groundwater.
The agency found that the proposed monitoring arrangements need stronger integration with the project’s operational controls and environmental management plans.
Testing before chemical leaching
The IAEA suggested that the project could proceed through a phased approach that allows the company to collect the additional scientific evidence needed before introducing chemical solutions underground.
Under such an arrangement, Namibian authorities could consider permitting preliminary activities, including the installation of monitoring wells and hydraulic testing, without immediately authorising uranium recovery through chemical leaching.
The company could also test the proposed injection and recovery system using formation water to determine whether underground fluid movement can be controlled.
Results from these investigations would help establish whether the proposed mining area is sufficiently confined and whether the recovery system can maintain the required hydraulic conditions.
The IAEA said this approach could allow technical uncertainties to be addressed progressively while giving regulators an opportunity to evaluate the results before further activities are authorised.
Groundwater restoration remains uncertain
The review also found that Headspring needs stronger scientific evidence to demonstrate how groundwater affected by the proposed leaching process would be restored after operations.
The company’s environmental assessment assumes that restoration could be achieved within approximately six months using a flushing process equivalent to two pore volumes.
However, the IAEA questioned whether the available geochemical studies and modelling adequately support that timeframe.
The experts recommended further investigations into the chemical reactions that could occur when leaching solutions interact with underground rocks and groundwater.
They also called for clearer baseline groundwater measurements and restoration targets to determine whether the aquifer can be returned towards its original conditions after uranium recovery.
The IAEA warned that assumptions about restoration time and water requirements may be optimistic relative to the available evidence.
Decision rests with Namibia
Headspring Investments is owned by Uranium One Group, a subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned Rosatom corporation, and has held mineral rights on eight exclusive prospecting licences in southern Namibia since 2011.
Its proposed Wings pilot project falls within the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System, where groundwater protection has been a central concern among communities and other stakeholders.
The IAEA conducted its review at the request of the Namibian government and visited the country from 10 to 13 February 2026, meeting government authorities, project representatives and affected stakeholders.
Although the agency identified several technical shortcomings and recommended additional investigations, it did not recommend approving or rejecting the project.
Its assessment applies specifically to the proposed pilot operation and not to a future full-scale uranium mine.
The agency concluded that until aquifer separation, hydraulic containment and related environmental safeguards are adequately demonstrated, uncertainty remains over whether the proposed pilot operation can protect groundwater resources.
