Namibia says no approval has been granted for phosphate mining
WINDHOEK, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism on Wednesday said that no approval has been granted for phosphate mining in the country.
The Ministry's spokesperson Romeo Muyunda in a statement clarified the issue following recent media reports on the matter insinuating that phosphate mining has been approved.
According to Muyunda, the matter of phosphate mining is currently before the high court with two pending cases, adding that a further decision could only be reached based on the outcomes of the two cases.
He urged all Namibians to be calm and reject with condemnation insinuations that phosphate mining is approved.
He noted that the nation's Environmental Commissioner in 2016 had granted an environmental clearance certificate with a three-year validity period, but it was with conditions which would only allow the testing of phosphate mining, and would help gather data in the Namibian waters.
However, the certificate was already nullified by the ministry at the end of 2016.
