Location
- 90km offshore and between -190 to -240 meters in depth
- 110 km from the Port of Walvis Bay
- GPS coordinates: 13.527, -23.291
Resource and Reserves
- Marine mud sediments comprising of fine-grained pellets of the calcium-fluor phosphate mineral francolite (a variety of apatite)
- Very large lateral extent of mineralized ocean floor sediment layer
- Inferred reserve > 1billion tons of raw material at 21.0% P2O5 average
Production (envisaged)
- Dredging, upgrade through coarse material rejection by screening and cyclone de-sliming
- 26% P2O5
- Potential for direct fertilizer application and/or production of phosphoric acid
- Phosphoric acid enables further processing to granular fertilizer
- Current Status
- EPL 4154 granted to Gecko Phosphates (Pty) Ltd
- EIA done for marine exploration work and Clearance Certificate granted by Ministry of Environment and Tourism for the exploration phase
- Purification and processing test work concluded on the raw material
- More exploration and detailed processing work in progress
Noteworthy
- The Namibian Government has proclaimed an 18 month moratorium on all marine phosphate mining at the end of 2013
- The Industry is awaiting the outcome of a marine EIA/SEA commissioned by the Namibian Government.