NamWater and AREVA to sign water supply agreements in Namibia

Namibian national water utility NamWater and France-based multinational industrial conglomerate AREVA are negotiating the terms to sign off-take and water supply agreements.

The agreements will help NamWater to provide water to its customers Rössing Uranium mine, Husab Mine and Langer Heinrich Mine from AREVA’s desalination plant in the country.

Both the parties are currently negotiating for uptake of excess water from AREVA’s desalination plant, which has a production capacity of 20 million cubic metres of water per year.

NamWater will also provide a reliable water supply to the growing population in the towns of Arandis, Henties Bay, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, reported all Africa.

AREVA country manager Hilifa Mbako was quoted by the publication as saying, "Yes, we are in the process of finalising an off-take agreement with NamWater, but it is not yet signed. The rest can only be disclosed by NamWater at the appropriate time."

NamWater Engineering and Scientific Services general manager Kuiri Tjipangandjara said the utility supplies water to the towns and mines from the Kuiseb and the Omdel aquifers.

"The Omdel aquifer relies on the inflow through the Omaruru River, but for the past four years or so we haven’t had any inflow hence the erratic water supply to this part of the country," Tjipangandjara added.

"There is increasing water demand at the coast that we cannot meet. On the other hand, there is a desalination plant at Wlotzkasbaken, built by AREVA, that is not being fully utilised.

"Thus, it was then necessary talk to AREVA to see whether we cannot have access to the excess water from that plant."

Final agreement is expected to be signed in a few weeks, following the resolution of all issues between the company and the utility.

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Image: The Rössing Uranium mine is one of the customers that NamWater will provide reliable water upon finalising the off-take and water supply agreements with AREVA. Photo: Courtesy of Ikiwaner.