Namibia has signed a major agreement that will see a Chinese uranium producer co-develop the country’s second seawater desalination plant, a move expected to ease mounting water shortages in the mining-intensive Erongo region. The joint venture pairs Swakop Uranium, a subsidiary of China General Nuclear Power Group, with NamWater, the national water utility. Swakop Uranium will hold a 70 percent stake while NamWater retains 30 percent, according to details published by Xinhua.
The plant will be built along the coast to expand capacity beyond what is currently provided by the existing Erongo Desalination Plant. Growing industrial activity, population pressure and rising water demand from large mining operations have made new supply infrastructure essential, according to The Namibian. NamWater will oversee regulatory compliance and national grid integration while Swakop Uranium will provide financing and technical expertise.
Local officials say the project strengthens long term water security for both communities and industry. The Namibian reported that Erongo’s rapid growth has intensified the need for a second facility that can support hydrological resilience and ensure consistent supply for mining operations, residential expansion and associated economic activity.
The development also deepens China’s economic presence in Namibia’s strategic infrastructure and resource sectors. Industry analysts noted in The Extractor Magazine that Swakop Uranium is already one of the country’s largest mining investors, and the move into water infrastructure demonstrates a broader shift toward integrated industrial support systems.
Once completed, the new desalination plant is expected to play a pivotal role in safeguarding the region’s industrial future while supporting Namibia’s wider development agenda for sustainable resource management.
