Explainer: In-situ mining and the recent report
What is in-situ leach uranium mining? A company called Headspring Investments wants to mine for uranium near Leonardville in the Omaheke region. The company’s proposal is to pump a chemical solution deep underground to dissolve the uranium. They then pump the solution containing uranium back out. This method has not been used in Namibia before. There have been concerns that the chemical solutions and uranium could contaminate the groundwater in Omaheke. What report was released to the public this week? The Namibian government asked technical experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to review the uranium project, including the