Orano Mining’s Erongo desalination plant set a new record when it produced 12.7 million cubic metres of fresh water in 2021.
Erongo Governor Neville Andre Itope during his State of the Region Address on Friday said this was made possible by gradually upgrading the reverse osmosis system’s capacity to over 2 000 cubic metres per hour.
The cumulative production since 2013 has now reached over 75 million cubic metres.
The desalination plant was established to supply water to Orano’s Trekkopje Uranium Mine, which is currently under care and maintenance.
The plant also sells fresh water to NamWater, which then distributes it to Swakopmund, nearby mines and other areas in the Erongo Region.
“Orano Mining Namibia has also sourced additional solar power of five Megawatts for the desalination plant under a 10-year power purchase agreement with InnoSun Energy Holdings, of which construction at the Trekkopje has commenced and is expected to be commissioned in 2023. The solar power plant will enable Orano to provide water to the region from a green electricity source, be more affordable in the long term, and contribute greatly to efforts to reduce the carbon footprint,” the governor said.
Once commissioned, it is expected to reduce energy costs for the desalination process and lower annual greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent, which is equivalent to 9 722 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
The project is part of the Orano group policy aimed at lowering its carbon footprint and increasing the share of low-carbon electricity at its operating sites worldwide.