Environmental Compliance Consultancy (ECC) was contracted to conduct the environmental assessment and develop an Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
The work was carried out in line with the Environmental Management Act No. 7 of 2007 and the 2012 regulations and aligned with IFC international standards.
A full scoping and EIA report were submitted, and environmental clearance was granted by the relevant authorities — the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT).
Twin Hills is located on Farm Okawayo in the Erongo Region, 15 km east of the D1941–C33 junction.
The approved powerline will be constructed from the NamPower Erongo substation to the mine, with two route options assessed.
The preferred alignment covers 20.3 km, while the alternative extends to 24.6 km.
The line will operate at 66 kV and falls within NamPower’s transmission infrastructure development plans for the central region.
Because the environmental clearance for mining at Twin Hills was already awarded in November 2022, the following requirement was a grid-connected power supply to support extraction and processing operations.
Osino’s exploration programme in the Karibib district has matured into full mine development.
The project lies within the Damara Belt — a region already proven through Otjikoto and Navachab — and is expected to become one of Namibia’s most significant gold mines based on preliminary feasibility work.
A conventional open-pit operation is planned with standard gold-recovery circuits.
NamPower’s infrastructure will supply primary power to the mine, supplemented by a solar PV plant to reduce reliance on diesel and operating costs.
Alternative power options, such as HFO generators, were considered but found to be less efficient, more expensive, and environmentally inferior.
The new powerline will be steel monopole construction with a 22-metre servitude, 300-metre spans, and a delta-conductor configuration.
Poles will stand 18.6 metres above ground, be permanently earthed, and be fitted with OPGW for protection and reliability.
Bird-safe perches and aviation spheres will be installed as mitigation measures.
A 5000 m² substation will be built within the mine licence area (ML 238), with NamPower also constructing a 550 m² metering station.
Once completed, the line will be handed over to NamPower for operation.
A separate 11 kV reticulation line to the mine is planned and will undergo its own assessment.
Route 1 is preferred because it is shorter and lower cost, and it crosses only one privately owned farm.
It runs parallel to the existing 22 kV Erongo RED line and crosses the C33 near the D1941 junction.
Route 2 is longer and parallels the Omburu–Marble 66 kV line, intersecting multiple existing servitudes.
Both alignments were compared against environmental, technical and economic criteria before approval.
Grid connection is considered essential because gold mining is energy-intensive, and Twin Hills cannot operate at the planned scale without transmitted power.
Local diesel generation was evaluated as an alternative but rejected due to fuel cost, maintenance and emissions.
A PV hybrid system will be added to supplement the grid supply and reduce long-term energy intensity.
Construction labour will be primarily local.
Workers living in surrounding communities will travel daily, while those from outside the area will be accommodated in contractor camps.
Discussions with landowners have concluded regarding access, camp placement, and pylon routing.
The infrastructure corridor lies within a mining-driven growth zone, where power availability is expected to expand industrial activity, stimulate urbanisation in the Karibib area, and increase local employment.
Twin Hills is now positioned for powerline construction, followed by mine commissioning and gold production ramp-up.
With grid power secured, Osino moves closer to transitioning from development to operations — advancing Namibia’s next primary gold mine.
