|
[posting]33855303[/posting]Namibia: Work On Desalination Plant to Start (Windhoek) 4 April 2008 Posted to the web 4 April 2008 Petronella Sibeene Windhoek NamWater has announced that the construction of a second plant to desalinate salty seawater for domestic and industrial use in a project worth overa billion Namibian dollars in the Erongo region will commence in October. The desalination plant will supply water to about 12 new uranium mines expected to start operating in 2010. Managing Director of NamWater, Dr Vaino Shivute,yesterday said the unprecedented increase in uranium demand globally since 2000, has aroused interest among companies to explore uraniummining in Namibia. Mines in the pipeline such as Valencia, Goanikontes, Husab, Marenica, Tubas and Tumas and fiveothers are expected to open in the Erongo region starting 2010. Rössing and Langer Heinrich mines are expected to increase their production in the coming few years and will also get water supply from the desalination plant. They will consume about 53million cubic metres per annum exceeding the utility's nationwide supply of 67 million cubic metres per annum. This will be the second desalination plant in that region. In November last year, NamWater and UraMin announced a joint undertaking to construct a seawater intake and brine disposal system. The plant to be commissioned end 2009 will supply about 20 million cubic metres per year to Trekkopje Mine. The capital cost for the project announced yesterday is estimated at N$1.48 billion. Considering the huge financial outlay involved, Shivute said NamWater is likely to go the market to borrow. A financial consultant has already been appointed. NamWater will recover the money from the mining companies either as capital payment upfront or water tariffs. The funds will be used for putting up a system for seawater intake,building the plant itself, pipes, pump station, reservoirs and also for power supply. "It is not true that NamWater is subsidising water to the mines. They are prepared top pay," he said. Upcoming mines guaranteed they will buy water from NamWater and recover thecosts within the shortest period of the mine's lifespan, NamWater said. Last year, NamWater appointed a desalination consultant and prequalification bidders have already been completed. The tender documents were completed and preferred bidders were presented with the documents last month. The commissioning date for the desalination plant is early 2010. While the mining industry depends heavily on energy supply in order to operate big machines, Shivute said an inter-ministerial committee comprising of members of NamPower and NamWater was established to coordinate requirements from the ministries and parastatals. NamPower assured it would by the third-quarter of next year have enough electricity for the mines. The desalinationproject will facilitate enormous growth in uranium mining in the country resulting in economic growth, said Shivute. It is estimated that about 3000 Namibians will secure jobs in the industry. Shivute also indicated that the design of themuch-anticipated desalination plant will be in such a way that itminimises the brine discharge into the sea. "A stringent environmental management plan will be imposed by NamWater onall the engineering contractors that will be employed on the project,"Shivute added. Meanwhile, coastal water demands will still be met from the Kuiseb and Omdel aquifers. http://www.newera.com.na/ |
|
| aus der Diskussion: | BANNERMAN - jetzt auch in Frankfurt |
| Autor (Datum des Eintrages): | DaenischeSuedsee (10.04.08 17:34:23) |
| Beitrag: | 28 von 383 (ID:33859058) |
| Alle Angaben ohne Gewähr © wallstreetONLINE | |