Ocean Conservation Namibia (OCN) has raised strong concerns over the approval of an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for the proposed Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project, warning of potential risks to the Benguela marine ecosystem and Namibia’s fishing industry.
The ECC was approved on 5 August 2026 and is valid until 5 August 2029, according to OCN.
The conservation organisation criticised the decision, arguing that the proposed large-scale marine phosphate mining operation could have far-reaching implications for marine habitats, fisheries and conservation efforts.
OCN said marine phosphate mining on the proposed scale has never previously been undertaken anywhere in the world, raising concerns that Namibia could become a testing ground for an industry with uncertain environmental consequences.
The organisation warned that dredging the seabed could destroy marine habitats and generate extensive sediment plumes, potentially affecting water quality and marine organisms.
It further raised concerns about the possible release of heavy metals and other substances during the mining process, which it says could pose risks to marine resources and fisheries.
“We cannot allow Namibia to become a global guinea pig!” OCN said.
OCN is calling for greater transparency around the ECC decision, including the public release of reports and scientific studies used to assess the potential environmental impacts of the project.
The organisation said various stakeholders, including the IPC, have called for the underlying information to be made available for independent scrutiny.
OCN argued that public access to the scientific evidence would allow experts and other interested parties to independently assess the basis on which the environmental clearance was granted.
The organisation also stressed that the granting of an ECC does not mean commercial mining can begin immediately.
According to OCN, the project must still proceed through additional planning, permitting and development stages, including approval of the proposed terrestrial component.
Without the required land-based infrastructure, the organisation noted, the marine mining operation cannot proceed.
OCN Director Naude Dreyer said the organisation would continue monitoring developments around the project and raising public awareness about what it considers potential environmental risks.
The Sandpiper project has attracted sustained debate over the balance between mineral development and the protection of Namibia’s marine environment, particularly given the importance of the Benguela ecosystem to fisheries and coastal livelihoods.
OCN maintains that greater transparency, independent scrutiny and robust environmental safeguards are necessary before Namibia proceeds with a project involving what it describes as a largely untested form of marine mining.
By Rudi Bowe
