Namibia faces water supply strain
Central coast uses double its aquifer capacity, relying on desalination.
Namibia's water supply is under strain due to rising demand, aging infrastructure, and limited resources, with the central coast heavily dependent on desalinated seawater. The 3rd Namibia Regional Water Symposium in Swakopmund on Tuesday heard that NamWater's coastal aquifers are supplying nearly double their permitted capacity. Adelino Batista, NamWater's head of coastal business unit, stated that the Omdel and Kuiseb aquifers have a supply limit of 14 million cubic metres annually, but demand reaches 29 million cubic metres.
The shortfall is met by the Orano desalination plant, which produced a record 18 million cubic metres last financial year. Water demand on the coastal system has risen by 10% and a further 6% over two years, with NamWater selling 28.4 million cubic metres of treated water, primarily to mines. Batista highlighted the need for new water sources to support existing and emerging industries.
The N$2.1 billion Erongo Sunam desalination project, a joint venture between NamWater and Swakop Uranium, is slated for mid-2028 operations. This project aims to produce around 20 million cubic metres annually, with Swakop Uranium consuming at least half. NamWater is also undertaking N$170 million pipeline replacements for the Omdel and Swakopmund lines, with work beginning in July and expected completion in the next financial year.
Why it mattersMining companies are being asked to share the risks and costs associated with new water infrastructure due to the long lifespan of the infrastructure compared to mine operations.