Namibia’s Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Bernard Esau said last week that his ministry has not changed its position regarding the moratorium on marine mining activities in the country.
In September last year, Cabinet decided to place a moratorium on marine phosphate mining to enable the line ministry to conduct a strategic environmental assessment.
Esau said in the National Assembly (NA) that his ministry remains resolute in its commitment to ensure that proper scientific investigations are carried out which will allow the government to make an informed decision about the future of marine phosphate mining in Namibia.
The minister said the substantial body of information which will be collected during the moratorium period will provide an indication as to whether the marine ecosystem will be impacted by such mining.
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Press Release, April 14, 2014