Namibian Marine Phosphate

Also known as: Namibian Marine Phosphate Ltd

Marine phosphate mining company that received environmental clearance in August 2026 for the Sandpiper Project, facing appeals and opposition from government ministries, fishing bodies, and environmental groups.

2026-08-102026-09-06

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

September 2026
3 SeptInformanté
Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) received an Environmental Clearance Certificate from the Environmental Commissioner on 8 August 2026
Source
“the Minister of Agriculture has cited the environmental commissioner and NMP as respondents, stating that she would appeal to the Environment Minister, Indileni Daniel, in terms of Section 50(10) of the Environmental Management Act 7 against the decision by the Environmental Commissioner to grant an Environmental Clearance Certificate on 8 August 2026.”
Agriculture ministry challenges granting of phosphate environmental clearance
August 2026
12 AugWindhoek Observer
NMP received an Environmental Clearance Certificate for Mining Licence 170 and Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Project
Source
“Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) has received an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for Mining Licence 170 and its Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Project, although the company says the approval does not allow mining to begin immediately.”
Environmental clearance granted for Sandpiper marine phosphate project
12 AugWindhoek Observer
NMP stressed that there are no immediate or urgent plans to commence commercial operations
Source
“NMP stressed that there are no immediate or urgent plans to commence commercial operations.”
Environmental clearance granted for Sandpiper marine phosphate project
10 AugInformanté
Namibian Marine Phosphate received Environmental Clearance Certificate for its Sandpiper Project
Source
“NAMIBIAN Marine Phosphate (NMP) is facing stiff opposition following the issuance of an Environmental Clearance Certificate for its controversial Sandpiper Project, bringing the proposed offshore marine phosphate mining operation closer to implementation.”
Marine phosphate mining project gets green light amid fishing industry concerns

Mining & Energy

Sandpiper phosphate project economic case deemed incomplete

The News

An independent review finds that the Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Project's economic case remains incomplete, with updated financial, environmental and fisheries assessments needed before its projected benefits can be established. The review notes that while available evidence does not support declaring the project uneconomic, it also lacks sufficient basis to establish the scale and durability of its benefits, citing concerns over phosphate price volatility and a 20-year operating life.

21 hours ago · Informanté →

Yesterday

Sandpiper phosphate project economic case deemed incomplete
An independent review finds that the Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Project's economic case remains incomplete, with updated financial, environmental and fisheries assessments needed before its projected benefits can be established. The review notes that while available evidence does not support declaring the project uneconomic, it also lacks sufficient basis to establish the scale and durability of its benefits, citing concerns over phosphate price volatility and a 20-year operating life.
21 hours ago · Informanté →

Thursday 3 September

Agriculture minister appeals Sandpiper phosphate environmental clearance
Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani has appealed against the environmental commissioner's decision to grant an environmental clearance certificate to Namibian Marine Phosphate for the Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project, appealing against the decision in its entirety and all conditions in the certificate.
3 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Agriculture ministry challenges phosphate mining environmental clearance
The Minister of Agriculture is challenging an Environmental Clearance Certificate granted to marine phosphate mining company Namibian Marine Phosphate, citing a moratorium placed on phosphate mining in 2013, while the Environment Minister said the Environmental Management Act process will take its course and environmental groups oppose the project citing ecosystem damage risks.
3 September 2026 · Informanté →
Venaani criticises government coordination over phosphate project ECC
The PDM president McHenry Venaani has accused the government of poor coordination after the ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform appealed an environmental clearance certificate granted to Namibian Marine Phosphate for the Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Project. Venaani said the appeal exposed shortcomings in how government ministries communicate and make decisions, noting the agriculture ministry only learned of the Environmental Commissioner's decision through social media two days after it was granted on 5 August 2026.
3 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 18 August

Scientist questions economic viability of Sandpiper phosphate project
Independent fisheries management scientist Dr Carola Kirchner says available evidence on Sandpiper Marine Phosphate mining is incomplete and partly outdated, citing the project's exposure to commodity-price volatility over its proposed 20-year mine life and unresolved questions about the land-based processing facility and freshwater requirements as key concerns.
18 August 2026 · Informanté →

Monday 17 August

Swapo youth league calls Cabinet oversight of environmental permits
The Swapo Party Youth League wants the Cabinet to oversee environmental clearance decisions, arguing that ministers must supervise decisions within their ministries. Critics including former Cabinet minister Helmut Angula warn that Cabinet involvement could politicise the process and that administrators should remain responsible for ECC applications.
17 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 16 August

Editorial: Namibia needs clear seabed phosphate mining policy
The Namibian editorial commends President Nandi-Ndaitwah for opposing seabed phosphate mining but criticizes the lack of clear policy, after environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti granted Namibian Marine Phosphate an environmental clearance certificate despite more than a decade of unresolved controversy.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 14 August

Swapo youth wing opposes phosphate mining environmental clearance
The Swapo Party Youth League has called for the environmental clearance certificate granted to Namibian Marine Phosphate to be reviewed and set aside, citing concerns that the project could threaten Namibia's fishing industry and marine environment through pollution and habitat damage.
14 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 12 August

President opposes marine phosphate mining approval in Atlantic
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah reportedly objects to environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti's approval of an environmental clearance certificate for Namibian Marine Phosphate's Sandpiper project to mine for fertilisers in the Atlantic Ocean, saying Namibia should not be used for an ocean experiment. The president held a meeting with senior government officials this week to express concerns about the decision made without apparent consultation on a matter of massive public interest.
12 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibian Marine Phosphate gets environmental clearance for Sandpiper project
Namibian Marine Phosphate has received an Environmental Clearance Certificate for Mining Licence 170 and its Sandpiper Marine Phosphate Project, valid for three years, though mining cannot begin immediately and the company must complete additional permitting requirements and implement detailed environmental monitoring programmes.
12 August 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 11 August

Fishing body threatens challenge to marine phosphate environmental clearance
The Confederation of Namibian Fishing Associations has threatened to challenge the validity of Namibian Marine Phosphate's environmental clearance certificate, alleging the environmental commissioner failed to respond to repeated information requests since May 2022 and broke a July 2022 promise to provide a response before the certificate was issued on 5 August.
11 August 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 10 August

Marine phosphate mining project approved despite fishing industry opposition
Namibian Marine Phosphate received an Environmental Clearance Certificate for its Sandpiver Project, an offshore marine phosphate mining operation, despite sustained opposition from Namibia's fishing industry and environmental groups who warn of potential damage to marine ecosystems and fisheries.
10 August 2026 · Informanté →