Cover Summary - Enviro Dynamics Namibia

estimated at 1,832 Mt Mt (1.832 Billion tonnes) at15 % phosphate (P 2 O 5 ) content 7 . Prefeasibility andscoping studies completed by NMP in November2010 identified that dredging (using a TrailingSuction Hopper Dredger) 5.5 Mt of the phosphateenriched sediments annually would yield 3.0 Mt ofexport grade ‘phosphate rock concentrate’Concluding comments from these studiesestablished a robust economic project modelwhich supported and justified the development ofa Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) subject to amining licence being issued.A full definitive feasibility study has beenembarked upon with envisaged completion duringthe first quarter of 2012. The feasibility study issupported by integrated Environmental ImpactAssessments that address the marine andterrestrial components respectively.The main project elements are:• Dredging annually 5.5 Mt of phosphateenriched marine sediments from 190 to 275 mwater depths;• Transporting this ‘slurry’ in the dredger to anoffshore discharge buoy – pipeline(approximately 1.2 km offshore) and pumpingthe material to a coastal buffer pond, locatedto the south of the Walvis Bay salt works;• Reclaiming the slurry from the buffer pond andscreening out the shell fraction;• Pumping the slurry along a 26 km pipeline tothe processing plant located 5 km to the eastof Walvis Bay;• Processing (washing) the slurry to separate theRock Phosphate from the fines, and• Exporting the rock phosphate to Internationaldestinations through the Port of Walvis Bay.LOCATIONThe marine phosphate project (“Sandpiper”) islocated on the Namibian continental shelfapproximately 120 km south southwest of WalvisBay. The eastern boundary of the Mining LicenceArea is approximately 40-60 km off the coast(directly west of Meob Bay and Conception Bay).The water depths in the licence area range from180 to 300 m. The Mining Licence Area is25.2 km wide (greatest width) and 115 km long(longest length) and covers an area of 2233 km 2 .Three target recovery areas have been selectedwithin the total mineral resource area, two ofwhich are 22 x 8 km in size and one at 11 x 6 km(totalling 418 km 2 ) which are the particular focusof this evaluation. Of this resource, approximately3 km 2 will be mined in the selected target recoveryareas annually over the 20 year licence period toachieve the targeted 3 Mt pa dry productproduction target.The Mining Licence Area is located within theNorthern Benguela of the Benguela Current LargeMarine Ecosystem, on the outer shelf to the southwest of Walvis Bay. The Benguela displays a highdegree of variability over a broad spectrum of timeand spatial scales. It is an important centre ofmarine biodiversity and marine food production.Its distinctive bathymetry, hydrography, chemistryand trophodynamics combine to make it one of themost productive ocean areas in the world. Thishigh level of primary productivity of the Benguelasupports an important global (and local) reservoirof biodiversity and biomass of zooplankton, fish,sea birds and marine mammals, while near-shoreand offshore sediments hold rich mineraldeposits 8 . These living and non-living resources areof economic and strategic importance to Namibia.EIA PROCESSTo ensure that the project complies with therequirements of the Environmental ManagementAct (No. 7 of 2007) it is necessary to conduct anEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA) andcompile an Environmental Management Plan(EMP). This process and its outcomes then allowsfor the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET)in association with the relevant ministries to makean informed decision as to whether or not theproject should receive an EnvironmentalCertificate and be allowed to proceed.7 Established to the Joint Ore Reserve (JORC) standards ofthe Australian Stock Exchange (ASX)8 Shannon, L.V, and O’Toole, M.J.: Sustainability of theBenguela: ex Africa semper aliquid novi.Final ReportNamibian Marine Phosphate (Pty) Ltd.Page v