SAUMA demands transparency over Stampriet Aquifer Uranium project
The Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Association is demanding transparency from the Namibian government regarding new research boreholes for a uranium project. They fear potential groundwater contamination and are calling for independent scientific scrutiny.
Why it matters
This reflects the ongoing tension between industrial resource extraction and the protection of vital shared water resources in arid regions.
The Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Association has called for a full declaration and accountability from the government following the authorisation of additional research boreholes for the proposed Wings Uranium project by Headspring Investments.
In a statement issued yesterday, SAUMA said the protection of ground water in the Stampriet Artesian Basin should remain a priority, warning that research drilling does not establish the safety of uranium mining.
The association was responding to Headspring investment’s announcement of 3 November 2026, which indicated that the research phase would not involve chemical reagents and that a revised application for the pilot testing would be submitted at the later stage.
SAUMA stressed that the announcement does not amount to approval for chemical leaching or demonstrate that the proposed uranium extraction method is safe for the aquifer.
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