Namibia’s search for a fourth gold mine

Namibia’s exploration pipeline is impressive, and the country could soon discover its next gold mine. 

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions

Namibia could easily have four to six operating gold mines within the next 10 years. That is if some of the current greenfields exploration projects turn out to be feasible.

According to the Chamber of Mines of Namibia, more than 60 exploration projects targeting amongst others gold, uranium, copper, lithium, and REEs are currently underway.

Encouraging, but we must keep in mind that the journey from exploration to an operating mine is extremely challenging. Industry statistics indicate that less than 0.1% of grassroots exploration projects eventually become producing mines. That is only one in a thousand.

Namibia bucks the global trend

Over the last four years, Namibia has bucked the global trend. During this time, it has seen several discoveries progress from exploration to mine development or production, including Otjikoto, Twin Hills, Uis,Tumas and Etango.

I have a sneaking feeling that the next mine development in Namibia will be in the Damara Gold Belt. There are several exciting gold projects around Karibib, Omaruru, Outjo, Omatjete and Khorixas.

Belt hosts 3 gold mines

The Damara Gold Belt forms part of the Pan-African Damara Orogen, a mountain belt created about 550–500 million years ago when the ancient continents that formed Gondwana collided.

This tectonic event produced intense folding, faulting, metamorphism and granite intrusions, creating ideal conditions for hydrothermal fluids to deposit gold within quartz veins and sulphide-rich rocks.

The belt hosts Namibia’s three current producing and developing mines: Navachab, Otjikoto and Twin Hills.

The Damara Gold Belt is a regional geological province associated with the Damara Orogen, which stretches across much of central and north-central Namibia. Gold mineralisation occurs in several structural corridors within this belt, and exploration continues to expand the known gold-bearing areas.

WhyAfrica RES Road Trip covers mineral provinces

In 2026, the RES WhyAfrica Road Trip will travel overland across three of Southern Africa’s most important mineral provinces: the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB), the emerging Damara Gold Belt and the world-renowned Uranium Belt.

Along the route, WhyAfrica will visit exploration and mining projects, conduct interviews with industry leaders and government officials, and report on investment opportunities shaping the region’s mining future.

Remember that WhyAfrica members and sponsors will receive exclusive day-to-day updates through the dedicated WhyAfrica Road Trip channel, while regular videos from site visits and interviews will be published on our YouTube channel. Occasional highlights and key developments will also be shared on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Image: B2Gold’s  Otjikoto Gold Mine in Namibia. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica

Leon Louw provides independent consulting services to investors, businesses and organisations seeking a deeper understanding of Africa’s political, economic and natural resource landscape.

Namibia’s search for a fourth gold mine