After the granting of the mining licence ML250 in December 2023, Bannerman Mining Resources Namibia was quick to hit the ground running by awarding two key early works contracts, namely the Etango temporary water pipeline and the access road construction.

Namibbeton (Pty) Ltd, a local Namibian contractor is the appointed construction contractor with the construction supervised by CREO Engineering Solutions (Pty) Ltd. The construction works were commissioned at the end of January 2024 and has made good progress since.

The temporary water pipeline installation covers a 24km stretch from the B2 down to the Swakop River valley up to the Etango site. It will mostly run underground and consists of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe sections welded together and will terminate at a steel reservoir on site. This pipeline will ensure that all construction work on site for building the processing plant can continue while the permanent water pipeline will be constructed.

Installation of the first half of the pipeline is almost complete, with the first performance testing planned for May. Completion of the pipeline installation is planned for the end of July 2024 and is well on track.

The access road consisting of a 4km engineered gravel road will connect the Etango site to the C28 road. Materials of construction are being borrowed from selected sites on the Etango mining license. The road bed and cut to fill work has been completed, with the subbase and base layers currently being installed. The road construction work is on track to meet the completion deadline of end-May 2024.

Meeting the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment’s guidelines and requirements has been a key focus for all stakeholders involved, including a careful exercise of locating and demarcating sensitive environmental and archaeological areas.

Successful works execution without any lost time injuries is a testimony of Bannerman’s high safety standard. Bannerman’s Etango Project Technical Manager, Andre Alberts says, “Good collaboration between the Bannerman team, CREO and Namibbeton has been the key to success this far.”

Bannerman’s Managing Director, Werner Ewald is pleased with the progress adding that “having a reliable water supply, a safe access road and electrical power at the Etango site prior to the main construction starting will ensure a safe and orderly start to the Project.”