Namibian delegation makes pitch to Canadian mining reps

The time is now for Canadian investment in Namibia’s mineral exploration sector.

That was the message delivered by a delegation of government officials and businessmen from the Southwest African nation, who recently visited Toronto.

The delegation, headed by Namibia’s mines minister, Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, met with The Northern Miner and a group of high-profile potential investors at the offices of SouthernEra Resources.

The Namibians were unanimous in warning that opportunities for Western investors to tap into their mining industry are in danger of being seized by companies based in the Far East.

Since it was captured from Germany in the First World War and until its independence in 1990, Namibia was administered by the Republic (formerly the Union) of South Africa.

South African mining companies developed many mines in Namibia, and, in the process, imported mining expertise and helped build up the nation’s infrastructure.

However, international resistance to South Africa’s apartheid policies had the effect of isolating South Africa’s mining technology sector, the growth of which was consequently stunted. This, combined with Namibia’s openness to foreign investment and underexploited re- sources, resulted in substantial opportunities for Canadian- and American-based companies.

Stephen Mengesha, chairman of the Consortium of Canadian-Namibian Entrepreneurs, estimated that Canadian companies have about five years to establish themselves in Namibia before investment from the Far East begins to dominate the country. P.E. Minerals of Malaysia, he noted, has already acquired mining interests in Namibia.

“The Little Tigers are coming in fast, so hurry,” he cautioned.

Toivo ya Toivo told the meeting that Namibia’s varied geology makes it “a favorable target for a wide range of discoveries.” The country is a world leader in diamond production and also produces significant amounts of uranium, copper, lead, zinc and gold, as well as many non-metals, such as salt and marble.

“Ample opportunity remains for the discovery of new deposits,” he stressed.

“The Namibian government aims to create an attractive climate for investing in the mining sector.”