ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) FOR THE PROPOSED WATER ABSTRACTION, SUPPLY AND STORAGE ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE HAIB COPPER MINE NEAR NOORDOEWER, //KARAS REGION, NAMIBIA

 

MEFT Application Number: APP-006907

Name of Applicant: Namibian Water Corporation Ltd (NamWater)

Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP): Knight Piésold Consulting (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd (KP)

Nature and location of proposed activities: Located at the confluence of the Haib River and Orange River approximately 35 km upstream of Noordoewer, along Namibia’s southern border. The proposed activities include:  

  • Water abstraction works on the Northern Bank of the Orange River,
  • Water supply pipelines and booster pump stations,
  • Off-channel storage dam, and
  • Associated infrastructure (Access roads, power supply lines)

If approved, construction will take 2–3 years. 

 

 

PROJECT LOCATION

GPS Coordinates: -28.686438° ; 17.879938° 

Location of the proposed developments associated with Exclusive Prospecting License (EPL) 3140 (See below)

 
DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY AND COMMENT PERIOD

The Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the Water Abstraction, Supply and Storage Activities are available for public review and comment from:

6 May 2026 to 19 May 2026

Written comments should be submitted within this period.

Project information is available on request from the contact below, at the links below and at the following public places during this period: 

  • Noordoewer Settlement offices, Noordoewer
  • //Kharas Regional Council, Keetmanshoop
  • Karasburg Constituency Office

 

Click to download 

Available Project Information 

 

REGISTRATION AS AN I&AP

To register as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP), please provide your name, contact details and comments to the contact below:

Contact: Heidri Nel 
Mobile/WhatsApp: +26 48 165 17336  (08:00- 16:00)  
Email: ESIAHaib@udanam.com

Note if you are registered as an I&AP for the Koryx application you will automatically be registered for the NamWater Application 

 
For more information, please contact the following: 
  • EAP: Joseph Mulders 
  • Mobile/WhatsApp: +27 72 754 2603

 

  • EAP: Lima Maartens 
  • Landline: +264 61 255750 

 

  • Support: Bianca Eiases 
  • Landline: +264 61 307297 

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EIA REGULATORY PROCESS TO DATE 

The EIA regulatory process is in accordance with the Environmental Management Act, 7 of 2007 and the EIA Regulations

Phase Purpose/Progress Application Focus
Screening

1. Application of ECC to MIME and MEFT - July 2025

2. Screening Notice provided by MEFT- July 2025

 Haib Copper Project
Scoping (Defining the ToR)

3. I&AP Identification and Notification- July/August 2025

4. Public Consultations- August 2025

5. Determine ToR for EIA and included in draft Scoping Report- September 2025

6. I&AP review on draft Scoping Report- September to November 2025

 Haib Copper Project
NamWater included as the proponent of water related activities thus splitting the application into two separate applications- January 2026. Note as the activities did not change the ToR for Haib Copper Project EIA remained valid moving forward.
Screening

1. Submission of BID to the MAFWLR and MEFT- February 2025

2. Screening Notice provided by MEFT- February 2025

 Water Abstraction, Supply and Storage
Impact Reporting (EIA) & Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

3. Assessment of alternatives, undertake/update specialist studies, draft EIA and EMP- November 2025 to April 2026

4. Notification- March/April 2026

5. Public consultations- April 2026

6. Update EIA - May 2026

7. I&AP Review and Comment – ONGOING

8. Finalise EIA and submit Application package- PENDING

 

 Water Abstraction, Supply and Storage
Decision Making 9. Authority assessment and decision by CA - PENDING Water Abstraction, Supply and Storage
Appeal 10. EAP to notify registered I&APs of decision and rights to appeal- PENDING  Water Abstraction, Supply and Storage