IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Namibia

This report assesses Namibia's readiness to implement the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework (MPF). It evaluates the country's mining laws and policies across six thematic areas: Legal and Policy Environment, Financial Benefit Optimization, Socioeconomic Benefit Optimization, Environmental Management, Post-Mining Transition, and Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM). The assessment identifies strengths in geological data and revenue generation, but highlights critical gaps in mine closure legislation, occupational health and safety, and the formalization of the ASM sector.

• Namibia possesses a robust geological data infrastructure, featuring a GIS-based database covering 98 per cent of the country. This system is managed by a well-staffed Geological Survey of Namibia (GSN) with approximately 60 employees and provides public access to geophysical, geochemical, and electro-magnetic data.
• The mining sector is a critical economic driver, accounting for 12.2 per cent of GDP in 2017 and providing over 50 per cent of foreign exchange earnings. The government generates revenue through a mix of corporate taxes (37.5% for mining, 55% for diamonds), royalties (ranging from 2% to 10%), and export levies.
• Namibia's legal and policy framework for mining is considered outdated. Key documents, including the Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act of 1992 and the Minerals Policy of 2003, are under review, but the process is perceived by investors as too slow and opaque, creating uncertainty that may discourage exploration investment.
• There is a significant legislative gap regarding mine closure and the post-mining transition. No mandatory financial assurance mechanism exists to cover closure costs, and the current penalty for inadequate closure (NAD 100,000) is described as too low to incentivize proper rehabilitation.
• Environmental management is primarily governed by the Environmental Management Act (2007), which requires an environmental clearance certificate (ECC) for mining activities. However, the system suffers from a lack of national noise and air quality standards, and the Pollution Control and Waste Management Bill has remained in draft form since 1999.
• Occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations for the mining sector are inadequate. The general Labour Act does not address the specific high-risk nature of mining, and specialized mining health and safety regulations have undergone ten revisions without being finalized.
• Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) is recognized as a pillar of the Minerals Policy, but the sector remains largely informal. Gaps include a lack of funding for training, limited access to credit for miners, and a lack of coordination among government ministries providing support services.
• Namibia's mining policies promote socioeconomic benefits through requirements for local ownership (at least 5% for new exploration) and the prioritization of Namibian employees, particularly women and formerly disadvantaged people. However, the 5% local ownership requirement is viewed by some stakeholders as a barrier to international investment.

APA

Crawford, A., Mooney, J., & Musiyarira, H. (2018). IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Namibia. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/namibia-mining-policy-framework-assessment-en.pdf

Chicago

Crawford, Alec, Jessica Mooney, and Harmony Musiyarira. IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Namibia. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2018. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/namibia-mining-policy-framework-assessment-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Crawford |first1=Alec |last2=Mooney |first2=Jessica |last3=Musiyarira |first3=Harmony |title=IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Namibia |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=September 2018 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/namibia-mining-policy-framework-assessment-en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{crawford2018igf, author = {Crawford, Alec and Mooney, Jessica and Musiyarira, Harmony}, title = {{IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Namibia}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2018}, month = sep, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/namibia-mining-policy-framework-assessment-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }