By Leburu Andrias
GUMARE - Okavango could soon transform into a mining region as an American company that was granted prospecting rights for Ngamiland in 2005 says the area is rich in various mineral deposits.
In an interview at the proposed mine site in Shakawe recently, site manager Mr Gosaitse Moabi said soon two mines would open at Shakawe and Sepopa.
Mr Moabi said Newdico, which is sponsored by the World Bank to prospect for minerals in the Shakawe area, had made some interesting discoveries.
He said the company had discovered iron ore in the area stretching south of the Shakawe airstrip, a few metres west of the Shakawe-Maun road and spreading west towards the recently completed senior school.
He said China had already declared an interest in mining the iron and they were now awaiting completion of tests and analysis of the ore.
"Our job here is to determine how much iron this area has and its quality. How soon the mine opens is a decision that is made by the investor, not us," he said.
Mr Moabi further revealed that they had also discovered a copper belt on the outskirts of the iron-rich Shakawe area, about 500 metres under the iron ore.
He said the copper belt starts from the Okavango towards Samochima, adding that what is of interest is the fact that technically, copper and iron never exist in the same area because of their contrasting properties.
He explained that though tests were still ongoing, preliminary results had shown a fault in the rocks, which must have pushed the copper into the iron.
The site manager further said another mine was expected to open soon in Sepopa as Australia was interested in mining the copper that the company has discovered in the area.
Furthermore, Mr Moabi added that numerous discoveries had been made in Ngamiland, such as deposits of kimberlite at Nxau Nxau, Ghani and Xaudom; copper at Sepopa and iron in Shakawe, adding that samples from other areas showed that the region is rich in iron and copper.
He explained that the kimberlite deposit at Nxau Nxau was small and not economically viable, but deposits at Ghani and Xaudom required further tests to determine the viability of mining. BOPA
