Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
March 2026
Informanté
Headspring Investmentsissubsidiary company of Russian state-owned mining company Rosatom
Source
“Headspring Investments is a subsidiary company of Russian state-owned mining company Rosatom and is mandated to manage Russia's nuclear energy sector.”
Headspring Investmentshas been exploring uranium since2011 under eight Exclusive Prospecting Licences
Source
“Headspring has been exploring uranium since 2011 under eight Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs) in the Omaheke Region, with smaller portions in Hardap and Khomas.”
Headspring Investmentssays it is ready to implementany recommendations from the IAEA
Source
“HEADSPRING Investments says it is ready to implement any recommendations from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following a technical review of its proposed in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium mining project in the Omaheke Region earlier this month.”
Headspring Investmentswelcomedthe visit of the International Atomic Energy Agency expert mission
Source
“The company welcomed the visit of the International Atomic Energy Agency expert mission, which conducted a technical assessment of the ISR project from 9 to 13 February.”
Headspring Investmentswants to extract uranium usingin-situ leaching method
Source
“Headspring wants to extract uranium using in-situ leaching, a method that puts solutions underground to dissolve the ore without traditional digging.”
Russian state-owned Rosatom, through subsidiary Headspring Investments, claims groundwater in the Stampriet Basin already contains uranium at levels approximately 300 times higher than WHO drinking water guidelines. The company awaits an independent IAEA report on its proposed in situ leaching uranium mining project in Omaheke Region, which the Namibian government has received and Cabinet is reviewing.
Why it matters
Rosatom's uranium mining proposal in Stampriet poses major environmental and regulatory questions as Cabinet reviews an IAEA assessment with long-term implications for Namibia.
Russian state-owned Rosatom, through subsidiary Headspring Investments, claims groundwater in the Stampriet Basin already contains uranium at levels approximately 300 times higher than WHO drinking water guidelines. The company awaits an independent IAEA report on its proposed in situ leaching uranium mining project in Omaheke Region, which the Namibian government has received and Cabinet is reviewing.
A delegation of Namibian farmers, a journalist, and employees from Headspring Investments visited the Dalur in-situ uranium mine in Russia to learn about its operations and extraction methods. The mine uses in-situ leaching, which dissolves uranium underground and pumps it to the surface, avoiding open-pit mining, tunnelling, and tailings ponds.
Farmers operating near Dalur in-situ leaching uranium mine in Russia's Kurgan region say agricultural activities have continued without disruption since the mine was established, with no decline in product quality. The remarks were made during a meeting with mine management and Headspring Investments, a Russian subsidiary of Rosatom that is exploring for uranium in Namibia's Omaheke region using the same method.
Republican Party president Henk Mudge accused Headspring Investments, a Russian state subsidiary, of using material incentives to sway communities and officials to accept uranium mining in Omaheke via in-situ leaching, which he warned poses serious contamination risks to the Stampriet aquifer and shared transboundary water systems. Headspring disputed the allegations, stating the project relies on advanced technologies used worldwide and operates under strict regulatory oversight.
An opinion piece from a Leonardville community member argues that Headspring Investments' uranium exploration project has brought tangible benefits to the Omaheke village through school feeding programmes, vocational training, bursaries, and community engagement. The author contends that the company's sustained investment in education and youth empowerment demonstrates genuine commitment to the community's long-term welfare.
The Republican Party's leader Henk Mudge has called for citizens to reject uranium mining in the Stampriet artesian basin, warning that in situ leaching operations could permanently contaminate one of southern Africa's most important underground water sources and pose risks to agriculture across Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.
Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga has rejected allegations reported by Forbidden Stories that the ruling party requested Russian support for its 2024 election campaign. The non-profit news organization reported leaked documents from Russian operatives allegedly showing requests for funding and involvement in disinformation operations, including a fabricated letter claiming UK financing of the opposition IPC.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources has endorsed the continuation of uranium mining by Headspring Investments, a subsidiary of Russian state-owned Rosatom, in the Leonardville area despite environmental concerns about contamination of the Stampriet aquifer. The committee chair argues that uranium is a natural resource already present in the area and that In-Situ Recovery technology, refined over 50 years, should be allowed to proceed to acquire scientific knowledge and enable Namibia to develop its nuclear industry.
A parliamentary standing committee recommended allowing Rosatom to proceed with uranium exploration and mining in the Stampriet Artesian Basin, arguing the project could help gather scientific data on natural contamination. The recommendation has drawn criticism from former agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein and farming groups, who warn the project could permanently damage the aquifer—Namibia's key drinking water source for the arid south—and lack scientific grounding, while supporters cite potential economic benefits and Rosatom's expertise.
Namibia's Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources has backed uranium exploration by Russian state-owned Rosatom in the Omaheke region, citing potential for billions in investment and thousands of jobs, though the project faces resistance from environmentalists and farmers concerned about groundwater contamination.
The government is seeking an independent technical assessment from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) before deciding on Headspring Investments' application to conduct four-year test mining using in-situ leaching in the Omaheke region. Environmental Commissioner Timoteus Mufeti said the decision will prioritise science-based evaluation of impacts on the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System and community rights, with the IAEA's technical report expected to undergo inter-ministerial review before March.
Headspring Investments says it will implement recommendations from the International Atomic Energy Agency following the agency's technical review of its proposed in-situ recovery uranium mining project in the Omaheke Region earlier this month. The company emphasises that the extraction method is water-efficient and widely used globally, and pledges to install observation wells for real-time monitoring of groundwater safety.
Anton Geinub, a 33-year-old from Leonardville in Omaheke, argues that a proposed uranium mine by Headspring Investments offers hope for young people trapped in low-wage farm work, while acknowledging concerns from SAUMA about water contamination in the Stampriet Aquifer. He calls for completing the required hydrological study to determine if in-situ leaching is safe, saying potential jobs and infrastructure development are worth pursuing if science proves the method poses no irreversible damage.