Swakopmund: Swakop Uranium spent over N.dollars 7.4 billion on local suppliers and contractors in 2024, representing 73 per cent of its total procurement of N.dollars 10 billion, in efforts to strengthen Namibian participation in the mining value chain.
According to Namibia Press Agency, this information was shared by Eliphas Hawala, chairperson of Swakop Uranium's Sustainability Committee, during the launch of the company's 2024 Sustainability Report. Hawala emphasized the company's focus on localisation, inclusive growth, and responsible corporate citizenship, noting that nearly three-quarters of their procurement spending remained within Namibia, which bolstered local businesses and created shared prosperity.
The report, unveiled under the theme 'Mining for a Sustainable Future', is the sixth annual sustainability report by Swakop Uranium, adhering to Global Reporting Initiative standards. Hawala further highlighted the company's investment of N.dollars 26 million in employee training and development in 2024, which included graduate programmes, leadership training, and wellness initiatives. Women now comprise 13 per cent of the workforce, with expanded opportunities for people with disabilities through fair pay and inclusion programmes.
Hawala also announced the company's record safety performance, maintaining its National Occupational Safety Association (NOSA) five-star rating and International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 45001 certification. He underscored the importance of safety, noting the use of digital monitoring, AI fatigue detection, and virtual simulation training to ensure employee safety.
The report details progress in environmental management, covering areas such as water recycling, tailings stabilisation, dust suppression, and fuel-efficiency tracking. Hawala stated that these achievements demonstrate Swakop Uranium's commitment to supporting Namibia's Vision 2030 and National Development Plan Six (NDP6), while continuing to deliver operational excellence and empower its workforce.