Namibia Government plans to buy Trekkopje desalination plant from Areva

The Namibian Government is considering buying Areva’s seawater desalination plant at Trekkopje, which was built with $271m, to supply water to the country’s semi-arid Erongo region.

The seawater reverse osmosis plant was inaugurated in January 2010 to supply water for Areva’s Trekkopje uranium project, which was later postponed due to low uranium prices.

Namibia Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry Permanent Secretary Joseph Iita was quoted by Bloomberg as saying: "Cabinet has made a decision for us to acquire that plant; we are busy with technicalities before we make an offer."

The government is planning to buy the plant instead of setting a separate plant.

The plant has a capacity to produce ten million square metres of water annually, which makes it an ideal choice to meet water shortage in the country.

The coastal towns of Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Henties Bay are short of water supply, as the water sources in the semi-arid Omaruru Delta and the Kuiseb River are gradually drying up.

The plant presently supplies water to four uranium-producing mines in the country, namely Paladin Energy’s Langer Heinrich mine, Rio Tinto’s Rossing mine and China General Nuclear Power Holding’s Husab mine.

Water distributor Namwater buys the produced treated water from the plant.

Post-acquisition of the plant, the Namibian Government may further invest to expand its capacity.

Mr Iita said: "The plant has a provision for expansion and if we buy it, we can expand the capacity to above 20 million square metres."

However, Areva officials have refused to comment untill the offer turns official.

Areva’s Namibian operations managing director Hilifa Mbako said: "Once we know what they want, when we have seen the offer, we will be able to comment."