Africa-Press – Namibia. Regina Murphy
CANADIAN mining company Osino Resources has received a preparedness to grant confirmation for a 20-year mining licence for the Twin Hills gold project from the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
Osino Resources cofounder Heye Daun confirmed the development in a statement on Monday.
Last week, Osino said a pre-feasibility study for the Twin Hills gold project in the Erongo region had set the life of the mine at 13 years.
Twin Hills gold mine is in the Erongo region, about 20km from Karibib, and is part of the Karibib District Gold Project.
Much of the area where Twin Hills lies has yet to be fully explored, because it is covered by hardpan and wind-blown sand. There are, however, several small deposits at Onguati and Goldkuppe.
The Twin Hills deposit forms part of the broader Karibib district gold project comprising 156 000ha of prime geology cutting across Usakos, Karibib and Omaruru.
There are 14 licences for the Karibib District Project.
Before granting the licence, the mines ministry wants Osino to fulfil an employment quota for certain disadvantaged Namibian groups, and to make available a 5% carried interest by certain disadvantaged Namibian groups.
The ministry also wants Osino to get an environmental clearance certificate from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and acquire the outstanding secondary permits needed to start operations.
The company also received a positive review from its environmental and social impact assessment and environmental management plan.
Osino got the environmental and social impact assessment from the mines ministry after engaging stakeholders in 2021 and early this year.
The environment ministry issued the environmental management plan after reviewing documents Osino submitted in March.
What remains for Osino is to get an environmental compliance certificate from the environment ministry and to relocate graves at Twin Hills.
The company said they were compiling a report that will be submitted to the Namibia National Heritage Council, which will, in turn, make recommendations to the environment ministry before the environmental compliance certificate is granted.
According to the company, the Osino Project team will engage relevant line ministries for secondary licences, such as an accessory works permit, bulk fuel storage permit, licence for explosives magazine, and licence to use explosives and burn packaging.
Osino would also need to apply for a borehole water abstraction permit, tailings waste disposal permit, wastewater discharge permit, river diversion permit, land clearing permit and an emission stacks and towers permit.
Daun said receiving the mining licence was a major endorsement of Osino’s progress, and that it confirms the government’s support of the project.
“Twin Hills’ stature as one of Namibia’s most exciting mining development projects continues to grow, and we are very appreciative of the partnership shown by all Namibian permitting authorities throughout this process,” he said.
* Regina Murphy is a mining researcher.
Osino Resources cofounder Heye Daun confirmed the development in a statement on Monday.
Last week, Osino said a pre-feasibility study for the Twin Hills gold project in the Erongo region had set the life of the mine at 13 years.
Twin Hills gold mine is in the Erongo region, about 20km from Karibib, and is part of the Karibib District Gold Project.
Much of the area where Twin Hills lies has yet to be fully explored, because it is covered by hardpan and wind-blown sand. There are, however, several small deposits at Onguati and Goldkuppe.
The Twin Hills deposit forms part of the broader Karibib district gold project comprising 156 000ha of prime geology cutting across Usakos, Karibib and Omaruru.
There are 14 licences for the Karibib District Project.
Before granting the licence, the mines ministry wants Osino to fulfil an employment quota for certain disadvantaged Namibian groups, and to make available a 5% carried interest by certain disadvantaged Namibian groups.
The ministry also wants Osino to get an environmental clearance certificate from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and acquire the outstanding secondary permits needed to start operations.
The company also received a positive review from its environmental and social impact assessment and environmental management plan.
Osino got the environmental and social impact assessment from the mines ministry after engaging stakeholders in 2021 and early this year.
The environment ministry issued the environmental management plan after reviewing documents Osino submitted in March.
What remains for Osino is to get an environmental compliance certificate from the environment ministry and to relocate graves at Twin Hills.
The company said they were compiling a report that will be submitted to the Namibia National Heritage Council, which will, in turn, make recommendations to the environment ministry before the environmental compliance certificate is granted.
According to the company, the Osino Project team will engage relevant line ministries for secondary licences, such as an accessory works permit, bulk fuel storage permit, licence for explosives magazine, and licence to use explosives and burn packaging.
Osino would also need to apply for a borehole water abstraction permit, tailings waste disposal permit, wastewater discharge permit, river diversion permit, land clearing permit and an emission stacks and towers permit.
Daun said receiving the mining licence was a major endorsement of Osino’s progress, and that it confirms the government’s support of the project.
“Twin Hills’ stature as one of Namibia’s most exciting mining development projects continues to grow, and we are very appreciative of the partnership shown by all Namibian permitting authorities throughout this process,” he said.
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