Find Mining expertise in Namibia

Over the years, since Namibia’s independence in 1990, mining has made up on average 11% of the country’s annual GDP, with diamond mining accounting for around two-thirds (2008). Mining has also contributed socio-economically by being the major private sector employer. Namdeb, a 50–50 joint venture between De Beers and the Government of Namibia, conducts almost all the diamond mining in the country. Other exploited minerals include copper, gold, uranium, silver, lead and zinc. The Chamber of Mines of Namibia represents the interests of major mining and exploration companies active in Namibia.

Dimension stone is the main focus of the quarrying industry in Namibia. Quarries are situated between Swakopmund and Karibib, wherein the majority of resources extracted are marble and granite. There are three main cutting and polishing plants in the country, the largest of which, the Namibian Stone Processing plant in Omaruru, manufactures stone for both local and international markets. The local markets traditionally used these stones only as tombstones, but they are increasingly being used for construction materials, and output rates are increasing yearly.