In September, EGP organized a five-day workshop for the Namibian Mine Closure Evaluation Committee. The workshop included topics such as geochemical processes, mine waste management, financial securities, and monitoring, and also undertook a visit to an uranium mine.
The Mine Closure Evaluation Committee in Namibia was established to consider and make recommendations to the Minister on applications for the evaluation of mine closure plans of a mineral right and permits. The Committee contains representatives from several institutions.
The 20 Committee members in the EGP workshop represented the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Bank of Namibia, Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Auditor General and Emerging Mining Association of Namibia. They all met in Swakopmund with the technical specialists from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency as well as representatives from UNDP Namibia.
The training for the Namibia Mine Closure Committee provided critical insights into the mine lifecycle, environmental sustainability, financial securities, and mitigation of geochemical risks, such as acid mine drainage. The focus on practical techniques for preventing contamination and ensuring effective long-term closure management will enable the committee to better evaluate closure plans in alignment with national regulations.
“Our Swedish experts shared experiences of both challenges and ways forward in this area, and we had some very interesting discussions on different aspects of mine closure – financial, legal and technical. The Namibian Mine Closure Framework contains comprehensive guidelines, and this training gave the committee the capacity to implement the framework” said Malin Eriksson, EGP Project leader at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
The training culminated in a visit to Rossing Uranium Mine to observe real-world planning of mine closure strategies. The mining company gave a presentation in both the office and in the field about rehabilitation measures, including closure strategies for waste rock dumps and tailings storage facilities. The visit included detailed presentations on the mine’s closure plan and funding strategy.
”I really appreciated the setup of the training. We learned how mine closure works in Sweden, and we also had an opportunity to present and discuss the Namibian perspective” said Mining Commissioner, Ms. Isabella Chirchir.
Going forward, Namibia’s Mine Closure Committee must strengthen its capacity in geochemical monitoring, enhance financial securities, and foster community engagement in closure processes. Additionally, Namibia should explore innovative financing mechanisms, such as environmental bonds, and implement a robust, centralized environmental monitoring system that ensures sustainable post-closure practices. Capacity building and stakeholder collaboration will be key drivers in ensuring that mine closure plans not only meet regulatory standards but also contribute to Namibia's broader sustainability and climate resilience goals.
© 2026 Environmental Governance Programme (EGP)
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