More desalination for Namibia
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More desalination for Namibia
Will Namibia’s second desalination plant in the Erongo Region solve its water woes?
By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.
If all goes according to plan construction on Namibia’s new desalination plant will get underway this month.
Last year Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, announced that the government had authorised the construction of a second desalination plant in the Erongo Region, close to the town of Swakopmund.
Legal due diligence confirmed the viability of this joint venture, paving the way for negotiations between NamWater and mining company Swakop Uranium to develop the plant.
Current water supply infrastructure
Namibia’s water supply infrastructure depends in part on the integrated water supply system comprising the Omdel and Kuiseb Delta aquifers and the existing Orano desalination plant.
The Erongo Desalination Plant, also known as the Orano Desalination Plant, is located about 35km north of Swakopmund near the settlement of Wlotzkasbaken in Namib desert. The plant was constructed between 2008 and 2010 and is the largest reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant in Southern Africa.
WhyAfrica visited the Orano Plant in 2022 during the first WhyAfrica Road Trip through Africa. In picture is a photo that I took during the visit.
Erongo’s second desalination plant
According to NamWater the second desalination plant will operate at a capacity of 20 million cubic meters and is expected to be commissioned by early 2027.
The project has been on the cards since 1998.
Namibia is the world’s third-largest uranium producer, accounting for 11% of the global supply.
Over the last few years, it has seen a surge in exploration activities and acquisitions in the uranium sector, increasing water demand.
Critical minerals exploration and mining activities, as well as Namibia’s ambitious green hydrogen plans, targeting the production of 10–12 million metric tonnes of hydrogen equivalent per year by 2050, are also putting a strain on the country’s underground water reservoirs.
The drawbacks of desalination
Desalination offers a solution to water scarcity. However, it does have environmental impacts. The process generates brine as a by-product, which can harm marine ecosystems if not disposed of properly.
Namibia is looking to expand its desalination capacity in the coming years to further address water challenges.
Namibia’s desalination plants will play an essential role in supplying drinking water, supporting economic activities, and mitigating the effects of climate change and water scarcity.
More desalination for Namibia
