Namibian fishing body challenges environmental clearance for marine phosphate project

The CNFA's lawyers, representing the federation, informed environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti that they had repeatedly requested information regarding NMP's environmental assessment since May 2022 but received no response. Despite a promise from Mufeti in July 2022 that a response was forthcoming, the environmental clearance certificate ECC was issued on August 5, 2022, without the CNFA's questions being addressed. The lawyers argue that Mufeti acted contrary to fairness, transparency, and reasonableness under Article 18 of the Namibian Constitution, and that the federation had a legitimate expectation of a response before a decision was made.

Princess Brand Processing general manager Adolf Burger expressed concerns that the mining licence area overlaps with a crucial zone for horse mackerel, posing a significant risk to the wet horse mackerel sector. Other political entities, including the Independent Patriots for Change and Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani, have also called for the ECC's suspension or public release of the environmental report.