Will Kokoseb define Namibia’s Damara Gold Belt?

WIA’s Kokoseb is a promising gold project in Namibia that deserves attention

Article by Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions   

The Damara Gold Belt in Namibia is attracting more and more exploration companies. Wia Gold’s Kokoseb project is one of a growing number of interesting developments.

With the release of WIA’s Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and project financing update, Kokoseb is a step closer to becoming a producing gold mine.

There is plenty to like about Kokoseb.

What to like about Kokoseb

The DFS envisages a conventional 5.25 Mtpa open-pit operation. Power will be supplied from the Namibian grid. The port of Walvis Bay is about 280 km away. This is imported for the import of reagents and other supplies.

The project has the backing of Epangelo Mining Company. Epangelo is Namibia’s state-owned mining company. Moreover, proposed financing from Sprott provides a vote of confidence.

According to Wia CEO Henk Diederichs the DFS as a major milestone. “Kokoseb has progressed from discovery to a development-ready project in just over five years.”

“The maiden Ore Reserve, mine plan and proposed US$360 million senior debt facility, together with a US$15 million equity subscription from Sprott, as a strong foundation for development,” says Diederichs.

Sprott’s Corey Posesorski describes Kokoseb as a high-quality development project. “It in one of Africa’s leading mining jurisdictions. The financing will support the project through construction and into production,” he says.

Managing social and environmental impacts

It will be interesting how WIA manages the social aspects of the project though. Kokoseb is located on communal land under the jurisdiction of the !Oe≠Gân Traditional Authority, where agriculture and grazing remain important livelihoods.

The DFS identifies 18 homesteads and 43 project-affected people who may experience physical or economic displacement. Access to communal land requires traditional-authority consent and Communal Land Board approval.

Water and Tailings Storage Facilities design and development are other issues worth following.

Kokoseb will rely on groundwater from the Omaruru Alluvial Plains paleochannel aquifer, with 13 planned production bores reaching depths of close to 300 metres. In an arid region where water is already a scarce resource, groundwater management will therefore be central to Kokoseb’s environmental and social licence.

My view is that Kokoseb has many of the ingredients of a credible Namibian gold development. Amongst other factors, geology, economics, managing groundwater and the ability to build a durable relationship with communities on traditional land will determine success.

WhyAfrica in the Damara Gold Belt

The 2026 WhyAfrica RES Road Trip will follow the Kalahari Copperbelt through Botswana into Namibia, then track the Damara Gold Belt before closing in Namibia’s Uranium Belt. We will visit exploration sites, engage stakeholders, interview decision-makers and generate on-the-ground intelligence for WhyAfrica members via our WhatsApp channel and growing YouTube channel. We still have a few sponsorship opportunities available, but time is running out. Contact us if you are interested.

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

Will Kokoseb define Namibia’s Damara Gold Belt?