The issuance of an environmental certificate to the marine phosphate mining project led by Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) by Namibian authorities has sparked concerns among environmental organizations and the fishing sector. They fear the consequences of seabed dredging on ecosystems and fishery resources.
The certificate, issued in August, concerns the Sandpiper project, located about 120 kilometers off the coast of Walvis Bay in western Namibia. NMP plans to extract phosphate, a raw material used primarily in fertilizer production.
However, the environmental authorization alone does not allow for the immediate start of commercial operations. The company states it still needs to obtain several permits, particularly those required for the establishment of land-based infrastructure.
The project involves controlled dredging of approximately 1.7 square kilometers of seabed per year, with a production target of three million tons of phosphate concentrate annually. According to NMP, the area involved would represent about 0.002% of the Namibian seabed over the 20 years covered by the certificate.
Marine scientist Bronwen Currie warns that excavation could resuspend heavy metals and other substances present in the sediments, potentially affecting the marine food chain and commercially exploited fish stocks. Environmental specialist Peter Cunningham also cautions against the impact of sediment plumes on marine habitats and breeding grounds.
These concerns are particularly sensitive in Namibia, where commercial fishing is a vital economic activity. The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations is reportedly considering challenging the validity of the government certificate.
If the project succeeds, Sandpiper could become the world’s first commercial marine phosphate mining operation of this scale. Opponents, including the NGO Ocean Conservation Namibia, argue that the environmental consequences remain insufficiently tested and pose significant risks to marine habitats and water quality.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-25 14:23:43 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://2424.mg/environnement-les-inquietudes-persistent-en-namibie-apres-lautorisation-dun-projet-dextraction-de-phosphate-en-mer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=environnement-les-inquietudes-persistent-en-namibie-apres-lautorisation-dun-projet-dextraction-de-phosphate-en-mer