斯科公司2021年可持续发展报告 2022-09-14.pdf

Phone: +264 64 410 9000 Email: Corporate.Communications@cgnpc.com.cn Web: www.swakopuranium.com Address: Cnr of Leutwein & Nathanael Maxuili Streets, Swakopmund SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2021 Sustainable growth for a prosperous Namibia Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Contents Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 01 About This Report 03 Introduction 04 2021 At A Glance 07 The Numbers For 2021 In A Nutshell 08 Message From Our Chairperson: Sustainable Development Committee 10 Message From Our Chief Executive Officer 15 Our Management Approach 27 Operations And Production 39 People - Employees And Social 77 Environment And Biodiversity About This Report About Sustainable Mining Sustainable mining means applying an operational approach that is geared towards ensuring that our operations, as well as its stakeholders, enjoy long-term benefits from what we do. This includes respectful engagement with local communities, assessing and managing the health and safety of all involved in the mine, measuring social and environmental impacts, and making ethical and transparent, strategic business decisions. Relentlessly pursuing an approach incorporating these principles ensures the maintenance of safe and profitable operations. 01 The reporting boundary of Swakop Uranium ’s sustainability year of measurement, it will be stated as such, and 2021 be used material importance to the sustainability of the Company. performance includes the activities and impacts of all as the base year going forward. In cases where measurement These mentioned issues will therefore form the focus of the operations that we control during the period 01 January 2021 has not taken place, it will be stated as such, and the necessary reporting and disclosures in this report. to 31 December 2021. Swakop Uranium is proud to be able to steps will be taken to introduce measurement in cases where the contribute to the ever-increasing global demand for carbon- metric is material in nature. neutral energy production. Our purpose is to mine uranium People and Social Planet and Environment The aim of this report is to provide an production and the provision of long-term benefits to all our overview of our performance against stakeholders. the background of topics considered as • Beneficiation •Community material to our business. In this report, our •Bribery and development and biodiversity The aim is to continuously improve and expand on Swakop objective is to give an honest reflection corruption • Community health management Uranium’s sustainability reporting. This is an ongoing process, of our performance by highlighting our • Ethical conduct • Community relations •Waste management achievements, but also by identifying areas •Legal compliance • Employee diversity •Water management in which improvement is still needed. •Transparency of •Employee health and which is done using the guideline of the Global Reporting Initiative (“GRI”) Standards. revenues and The Issues Material To Our Business of ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018, its The GRI Standards places an important • Labour relations Quality, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety focus on the issue of materiality, which is • Local employment processes and statistics, as portrayed in this report, have been defined and described as follows: •Local procurement and payments •Rehabilitation wellbeing In accordance with Swakop Uranium’s certification in terms • Employee retention business support independently audited and assured. The report as a whole has however not been subjected to independent assurance, “In sustainability reporting, materiality • Occupational health a milestone that we aim to achieve in future as a result of the is the principle that determines which •Skills and employee continuous improvement in our disclosure and reporting. relevant topics are sufficiently important development that it is essential to report on them. Not •Stakeholder engagement Swakop Uranium’s Husab Mine being a relatively all material topics are of equal importance, • Supply Chain new operation, it is unfortunately not yet possible to always and the emphasis within a report is • Workplace safety provide information regarding comparative expected to reflect their relative priority.” performance over the past years. Where such figures are available, they are provided; in cases where 2021 was the first Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Governance and Operations responsibly and efficiently, thus contributing to clean energy Below topics were regarded to be of most Note that the selection of these as Swakop Uranium’s most important material issues does not in any way suggest that the above list is exhaustive and other aspects and impacts will be addressed in this report as regarded to be relevant. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 “Swakop Uranium plants seeds and nurtures growth among all stakeholders” Introduction 03 Peculiar as it might seem to start a sustainability report with the Our business strategy leaves no stone unturned in ensuring mining license and EPL, which has the potential to extend Life of topic on mine closure, this is intentional. that our uncompromising standards leave a positive legacy for Mine beyond this date. sustainable growth and long-term investment in this country. Doing Things Right In One Go Everything we do, every decision we take regarding production issues, environment or social responsibility is aimed to ensure How Our Business Is Structured Given current global uranium prices, the Life of Mine (“LOM”) is that we leave a lasting positive legacy for the communities who The northern part of the Namib Naukluft National Park is home predicted to be until 2036. have been impacted by Swakop Uranium’s operations. to the world-class Husab Mine, the second largest Uranium This is responsible mining, it’s what we stand for. Mine in the world by drummed U3O8 production. Located in the Underpinning the mine’s philosophy is the company’s vision to Erongo region of western-central Namibia, the Husab Mine is 60 be a world-class operation and to produce uranium efficiently kilometres from the Namibian port of Walvis Bay. and responsibly. Throughout the life of the mine, we will, and we do, engage with our primary stakeholders regarding the impact of mine- Swakop Uranium enjoys the decommissioning. full support of its majority Shareholding in Swakop Uranium (Pty) Ltd core tenet of ‘Doing Things Right In 10% shareholder in China as well Our actions are, from the outset, robust, focused, specific and One Go’, and this is woven into the as the Namibian Government Epangelo Mining conducted with integrity and commitment. This is to ensure through the Ministry of Mines Taurus Minerals, CGNPG and CADF that we achieve our aim of leaving a lasting legacy once and Energy. our operations have reached the end of their life, which is Our leadership is committed to the 90% tapestry of our operating model where we strive to create a workforce that is accountable, committed and Figure 1: Epangelo Mining is a Namibian state-owned mining entity which holds 10% of the shares while Taurus Minerals, China General Nuclear Power Group and China Africa Development Fund hold a further 90% of the investment. responsible during the efficient inevitable in the extractive industries. This aim includes leaving In December 2011, the company behind sustainable and prosperous communities in a natural received its Mining License environment that has been rehabilitated in such a manner that it (licence number 171) to mine for supports continued socio-economic activity, especially given the nuclear fuels. It also conducts explorational activities under two More Than Mining mine’s location in the Namib Naukluft National Park. exclusive prospecting licenses, EPL 3439 and EPL 3138. Swakop Uranium is ‘More than mining’ as it strives to create extraction of uranium from the two open-pits at our mine. economic value for its stakeholders, its employees and the Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 This Sustainability Report shows our commitment to the Construction started in 2014, while production commenced in community it serves. Committed to true Namibian development, key areas that mark out our business and it sets our strategy, 2016. In terms of Life of Mine, Swakop Uranium’s estimate has it is a company that delivers on its promises and ensures that its the challenges we face, our performance, as well as social, been set at 2036, based on Zone 1 and Zone 2 anticipated to run mining activities, although they do have an impact on the natural governance and environmental issues that impact our up to this date. Significant mineralisation however exists at depth environment, are managed responsibly, within the country’s sustainability and commitment to continuous growth in Namibia. within the two pits and also in exploration targets within the legislation and in accordance with global standards. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 LOWLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS 2021 At a glance 1 Marginal increase in output despite difficult circumstances 05 2 Successful retention of ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO due to the COVID-19 pandemic 3 Highest ever mining production 4 Stable labour environment 5 Good exploration progress made to ensure sustainability 6 Innovative initiatives implemented to counter the impact of COVID-19 14001:2015 (Environment) and 7 Excellent progress made in corporate social responsibility programs 8 Huge strides made in effective tailings storage management and monitoring ISO 45001:2018 (Health and Safety) Certification 1 The inability of Swakop Uranium to achieve financial break-even 2 Increase in work-related injuries 3 Continued negative sentiments around nuclear power generation 4 Water supply shortages 5 Production system challenges, e.g. conveyors, SCADA system faults as planned, due to COVID-19 and suppressing demand in global and equipment failures resulting in production-related challenges, market low throughput rate and runtime including the availability of staff and supply of spares Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 The Numbers For 2021 In A Nutshell Health And Safety Measure Local contractor spend Loss recorded 2020 2021 Change 1 3 +200% 0.17 0.45 +164.7% Financial Value Added 21 36 +71.4% Namibian Dollar (N$) 3.98 5.61 +41.0% Value added Lost Time Injuries Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) All Injuries All Injury Frequency Rate (AIFR) Employment Measure 2020 2021 Change Total permanent employment created 1 569 1 628 +3.1% (incl. expats) (2 359) (3 144) +33.3% Payments to suppliers 4,862,061,063 7,335,369,359 Total value added 11,838,244,660 13,547,896,316 11,216,057 19,474,455 11,849,460,716 13,567,370,770 8,250,165,664 8,254,652,576 753,857,676 774,214,123 555,418 1,331,909 754,413,094 775,546,032 (2,359,580,043) (3,143,849,343) Income from investments/other sources Wealth Created 190 +2.2% Operating costs Namibian females in management 10 12 +20% Payments to Government Percentage of Namibian Employees 96% 96% - % Average number of contractor 500 1100 +120% N$13.66m N$15.7m +14.9% Taxes employees Community investments (only monetary donations are accounted) Total direct economic value generated Economic value retained Direct economic value generated less Financial economic value distributed 2020 N$ mil 2021 N$ mil Change: 2020 - 2021 133 1 557 1 070.7% Total procurement spends 4 316 5 542 +28.4% Local procurement spend (excluding 3 506 3 244 -7.4% Fixed investment +44.9% 2021 186 Indicators 804 2020 Namibian females employed Training and Development 555 Direct economic value generated: Revenues positions utilities) Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 07 Production Indicators 2020 2021 Change: 2020 - 2021 Output volume (tonnes U3O8) 3 893 3 902 +0.2% Tonnes mined 71 352 630 102 905 369 +44.2% 7 619 488 8 329 517 +9.7% 244 101 620 250 907 667 +2.7% Expenditure on electricity 382 394 +3.1% Water consumption (m3) Expenditure on water 348 354 +1.7% Electricity consumption (kWh/MWh) Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Message From Our Chairperson: Sustainable Development Committee It is my pleasure to proudly present all our stakeholders with our cultivate and entrench within the organisation, which we not and culture within which employees can be actively engaged operations at Husab mine will, like all extractive Sustainability Report for our 2021 Financial Year. In our quest to only expect all within the business to comply with but actively and contribute to the growth and development of the Mine, all industries, come to an end at some point. Our wish continually improve on our reporting and disclosure, we have drive through awareness and governance programmes. speak of an approach which is starkly in contrast with the archaic and vision are that, once that happens, we will be and hierarchical way in which mining as an industry has been leaving behind empowered and prosperous (and traditionally perceived to manage its affairs. therefore sustainable) communities within an gone to considerable lengths to ensure that this report provides a true and accurate reflection of Swakop Uranium’s sustainability Due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 efforts. presented itself as another challenging year, during which it was environment that has experienced minimal loss due not possible to grow and develop to the extent envisaged. We For the same reason mentioned above, our approach to to Swakop Uranium’s mining operations. Keeping These sustainability efforts are at the heart of everything we do are however proud of the way in which Swakop Uranium has stakeholder relations, regardless of who these stakeholders are, eventual closure in mind now already gives us the and inform our planning and execution of all initiatives from the been able to mitigate the impacts of this pandemic, not only on is one of building trust and mutually beneficial relationships to advantage of integrating our planning for eventual start. Being a comparatively young operation, we had the benefit our own operations but also in the communities. Details of these ensure that the socio-economic benefits of Swakop Uranium’s closure into all our business processes. Closure of implementing sustainability as a core principle and value from initiatives are outlined in the report, and I will therefore not dwell operations can positively impact all who are affected by them. planning is however not a once-off exercise, but a the onset, not only because we believe it to be the correct and on these in length at this point, apart from saying that it again While the COVID-19 pandemic has to some extent limited our “living” process, and we invite all our stakeholders to responsible approach, but also because it makes good business served as a prime example of doing responsible business because ability to actively engage with and contribute to communities, continue contributing their thoughts and ideas to it, sense. Whereas Swakop Uranium is not a listed company, and it is part of Swakop Uranium’s DNA. This business philosophy is it has created opportunities to make a tangible contribution. which would allow us to craft an optimal outcome. the expectation for reporting on sustainability normally comes satisfying as it provides us with the capacity to go into the future Now that the pandemic is largely something of the past, we are from shareholders that wish to get an indication of whether knowing that we are building on a solid foundation of values and confident that we will be able to both build on past initiatives Again, I wish to thank the Swakop Uranium family their investment is in an entity that applies the principles of principles-driven business approach. and contribute tangibly to our local stakeholders in new and for driving sustainability as a key value and placing different ways. Although we were not able to do a full materiality it at the centre of our strategy. responsible business, we believe that voluntarily publishing this Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 09 report demonstrates the openness and good faith with which we We believe that we can never stop growing and improving. assessment for this report, our continuous engagement with conduct our business for the benefit of all our stakeholders. Continuous improvement in all we do is part of our ways of stakeholders and taking their views into account in designing our work and permeates all the different realms of our operations, business processes has provided us with satisfactory insight into Reporting voluntarily is made much easier by Swakop Uranium’s from governance to operations, through to our social impact what is materially important to our business. Please refer to the aspiration to “go beyond compliance” as a key component of and care of the environment. It is therefore a core part of our Introduction and Overview part of the report of what these issues its commitment to responsible business. From the Introduction approach to creating a workplace in which individuals can grow are. We believe that taking these issues into account is important and Overview section of the report, it will be very clear that our and reach their full potential. I am confident that the examples in the interpretation of the information provided in the rest of the Code of Ethics, and the consistent application thereof – especially cited in this report will serve to illustrate how we have put these report. when it comes to the application of ethical principles over and vital principles into practice. We believe that doing so makes an above compliance with legislation and regulations. This is a important contribution to Namibia and her people through the Although we believe that the end of the life of mine is still central part of the culture and ways of work that we actively transfer of skills. This, together with creating a work environment some years into the future, it is an unfortunate fact that mining Inge Zamwaani-Kamwi Chairperson : Sustainability Development Committee Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Message From Our Chief Executive Officer 11 Although I found it difficult to believe that a year has passed since able to achieve all the objectives that we have set ourselves. producers in the world. This has demonstrated our ability to our structured engagement processes have led to positive and we published our Sustainability Report for 2020, a scan through Probably most telling was the shortfall in uranium oxide (U3O8) operate efficiently and productively, and together with the constructive relationships and seek to address the most pressing this document quickly reminded me that 2021 was indeed a year production against our target, which has led to Swakop Uranium potential of our mineral resource, it justifies our optimism about obstacles that stand in the way of our communities becoming on its own. With the COVID-19 pandemic still having a profound incurring a net loss for the year, against the forecasted small the future of our operations. In addition to this, the accelerated prosperous and sustainable. In this regard, our contributions to impact during the year, and many other factors playing a role, profit. drive to find alternative sources of clean and responsible education and the youth, in general, are very close to our hearts, energy, and the fossil energy crunch that the world has lately as we know that investing in the next generation means investing in the future. 2021 was challenging and we could not in all cases demonstrate the potential and growth that Swakop Uranium is capable The challenges we faced in 2020, including COVID-19 and water experienced, are sure to work in our favour. I am therefore of. However, it is with pride that we present to you our 2021 and electricity supply, continued into 2021. But I am satisfied that positive that we can for many years into the future still make a Sustainability Report, which I believe will testify to the resilience, the strategy to deal with these has served us well, and we are tangible contribution to Namibia. resourcefulness, and single-minded focus on sustainable therefore continuing to apply the approach outlined, i.e. striving development of the people of the Mine. for first-time excellence, being unrelenting about the application A large part of this contribution towards the growth and component of our sustainability strategy. Mining in an ancient of safety and ethical standards, keeping sustainability at the top prosperity of Namibia is aimed at its people. The transfer of skills and spectacular part of the world such as the Namib Desert has of our minds, and assigning priority to stakeholder relations. and empowerment of Namibians within a safe and healthy work given us a new appreciation of the wonder and the diversity With many of the challenges that were new in 2020 continuing into 2021, we were better prepared to tackle these and find Our operations, being a key component of a responsible energy generation value chain, care for the environment – the third environment is one of our primary objectives, one that we have of our planet. At the same time, it places an obligation on ways of overcoming obstacles to effective and sustainable Swakop Uranium exists to add value to all that are in any way set up the policies and processes to achieve. Regrettably, our us to ensure that minimal damage is incurred to the natural production, although we ultimately fell short of the goals that affected by its existence. This has significant implications and safety performance in 2021 fell short of our targets and did not environment during our operations and that the environment we have set ourselves. That said, we are grateful and excited that places serious obligations on Swakop Uranium’s management achieve the exemplary performance of the previous year, but our disturbed is restored to be sustainable, as it has been for millions the contributions and support of all our internal and external and its people. These implications and obligations relate to programmes are aimed at stemming this decline and continue of years. For this reason, we are proud of the high standards of stakeholders allowed us to keep operating efficiently during a profitable production, as the enabler of any value that could building on the significant improvements made since our environmental management that we maintain, as well as the time when other mining companies had to suspend operations or potentially be added, the people affected in any way by our operations started. partnerships that we have formed with various Government close. In my view, this is a clear indication of the integral strength operations – both internally and externally, as well as the of our resource, our business model and our relations with our sensitive natural environment in which we operate. stakeholders. Much of this required significant flexibility and and non-Governmental institutions for the conservation of the Our vision of letting benefits from our operations flow to people natural environment. is however wider than the workplace only and includes real and sacrifice from the side of individuals across the value chain, and We have made great strides in production since Swakop Uranium constructive development of our local communities, over and In closure, I wish to thank our social partners, shareholders we thank them for that. started up operations, which was not very long ago in mining above the benefits that accrue to Namibia as a whole - directly and other key stakeholders for maintaining the positive and terms. Although unforeseen circumstances have been a barrier to through levies and taxes, and indirectly through the economic constructive relationships that are a key part of our success. At an operational level, it is regrettable that the unforeseen us achieving the full profitable production that we had projected, stimulus of providing employment and generating economic We trust that you will find this report a true and informative continuation of COVID-19, together with global financial and Swakop Uranium has quickly established itself as the largest activity. The areas in which we can and should contribute are reflection of our efforts toward multi-faceted sustainability, and political instability, has led to a situation in which we were not mining operation in Namibia, and one of the largest uranium identified in collaboration with our stakeholders, with whom that it will add to your understanding of both the challenges and Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 the opportunities that present themselves to Swakop Uranium. Qiu Bin Chief Executive Officer 13 Our Management Approach Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Our Management Approach Vice President: Mining Operations, Irvinne Simataa Vice President: Human Resources and Office of the Company: Patrick Chizabulyo Chief Financial Officer: Dong Hao Chief Executive Officer: Qiu Bin Vice President: Processing Plant Operations, Ma Bingpu What We Stand For Swakop Uranium recognises that, to give substance to our belief that sustainability includes People, Planet and Production, strong corporate governance, social responsibility and environmental stewardship are essential aspects of a responsible business and an effectively-operating business. We are convinced that we can achieve our objectives by integrating governance with ethical behaviour, as well as with social (people) and environmental awareness in day-to-day decision-making. We remain committed to upholding the high standards we have established and to living them on a daily basis. 15 Our Vision Codes of Conduct To be a world-class Namibian uranium producer. For Management: Our Mission To produce uranium efficiently and responsibly. • Role Model • Accountability Our Core Values • Business Savvy Doing things right in one go. • Integrity Our Basic Values Transparency, Respect, Inclusiveness, Value Orientation. Our Basic Principles Safety First, Quality Foremost, Pursuing Excellence. For Staff: • Disciplined • Diligent • Dedicated • Developed Our Brand Slogan More than mining. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Our Management Approach 17 Board And Executive Oversight Swakop Uranium ’s Board of Directors (Board) consists of nine members, as depicted in the graphic below: An Junling Chairperson (Chinese) Dong Kun (Chinese) Cai Yusheng (Chinese) Chen Deshao (Chinese) Yu Qing (Chinese) Eliphas Hawala (Namibian) Audit and Risk Committee (ARCO) Luo Shu (Chinese) Qui Bin (Chinese) Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi (Namibian) Sustainable Development Committee (SDC) The Board fulfils its mandate both directly and through its committees via regularly scheduled and ad hoc meetings. Currently there are two Board Sub-Committees; the Audit and Risk Committee and the Sustainable Development Committee: Heading Body copy Committee Function Members Audit and Risk Committee Assists the Board in fulfilling its corporate governance and oversight responsibilities in relation to the company’s Chen Deshao (Chairperson) financial reports and financial reporting processes, internal control structure,risk management systems and the Eliphas Hawala internal and external audit process. Dong Kun Established in recognition of the importance of conducting business responsibly, sustainably and for the benefit Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi (Chairperson) of all stakeholders, and the contribution that the company could make to the sustainable development of Cai Yusheng Namibia, and in particular the Erongo Region. Eliphas Hawala Sustainable Development Committee It assists the Board in fulfilling its duties and responsibilities to Namibian stakeholders (including employees, local communities, etc.). Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Our Management Approach 19 Business Ethics And Governance Principles Clear and precise, it is upheld company-wide and bears witness To ensure that all stakeholders operate from a shared Globally, the natural-resources industry, given its transformative to our company culture. This is evident from the high level of understanding of the Total Risk Management Procedure’s effect on the landscape and where labour is concerned, faces key voluntary compliance to the Code, employee ambassadorship requirements, Swakop Uranium has appointed a Compliance ethical challenges concerning all business-related operations. for the Code, and the low number of disciplinary cases reported Committee whose members, dedicated to each department, Swakop Uranium is no exception. that relate to breaches thereof. The policy and its measures define oversee and supervise compliance in the various business units. in precise terms what is expected of all internal stakeholders, The company’s management strategy is not merely profit- which include Shareholders, the Board of Directors, the Executive Committed To The Transformation Of Namibia driven, though it must contend with a market in which uranium Management Committee and the entire staff. Management remains committed to the National Affirmative Action Policy. To this end, it established an Affirmative Action prices remain low for long periods of time; it is also built upon the aim to produce returns to the country in the form of social The company has reiterated its stance regarding the Consultative Committee that is governed by an Affirmative investment, financial well-being and development of local skills. consequences of non-compliance and breach of the company’s Action Charter. The Chief Executive Officer is accountable for Total Risk Management Procedure. This procedure highlights the the company’s compliance with affirmative action. This includes Management has a keen awareness of the company’s obligations company’s total risk management process principles and makes ensuring the necessary development and career-pathing of in making decisions that are also in the interest of the company’s provision for risk analysis and control. employees to facilitate effective affirmative action by merit-based career advancement. customers, employees, shareholders, surrounding communities Heading Body copy Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 “The company’s management strategy is not merely profit driven, ... it is also built upon the aim to produce returns to the country in the form of social investment and development of local skills” and the ecology. It must therefore continuously consider the social Furthermore, each section makes provision for Risk Management and environmental consequences of the company’s mining activities. under the relevant section’s management procedures. This is Employment equity reports are submitted to Government an important cornerstone in our efforts to build a world-class annually, and in the past three years we have obtained a Consequently, management places a high value on the ethical company with not only respect for the rule of law, but voluntarily compliance certificate in terms of equity. In terms of gender dimension of the company’s business operations and does not committing itself to the highest ethical standards over and above equity, 12% of our employees are female, whereas the general merely focus on the necessity to obey the law. legal compliance. standard in the mining industry is around 10%. Ensuring That We Comply Despite the challenges that we continued to experience during Management actively supports the implementation of various In accordance with Namibian laws and regulations, Swakop 2021, all internal stakeholders were still expected to: programmes aimed at promoting internal growth, be it through training programmes or by providing financial assistance for Uranium has developed a Total Risk Management Procedure, which is reviewed on a regular basis. This procedure, which • Comply with operational standards; encapsulates also the ethical principles that we believe need • Uphold management norms; and to drive our business, is an important demonstration of the • Demonstrate unquestionable integrity. company’s commitment to conduct business ethically. employees who wish to advance in their profession by studying. In 2015, Swakop Uranium established the Swakop Uranium Foundation by which means it channels investment in Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Our Management Approach communities at both local and national level. Management The interests of our employees and the public is of great undergo this training before their appointments are confirmed. ensures that the foundation is adequately funded. significance to us, as such much care and due diligence is applied Every year in December, International Anti-Corruption Day is to ensure that operational activities yield mutual benefits with celebrated, whereby the legal section raises awareness among A Culture-Driven Organisation Zero harm to people and society. In addition, we ensure that employees. Competitions are held to encourage employees to The company’s corporate culture, which is reflected in its we comply with all legislation and regulations, such as being familiarize themselves with what the company’s code of ethics governance structure, reflects the collective beliefs, value systems registered for income tax, value-added tax, and paying royalties and anti-corruption procedure entails. In addition, memos and thinking patterns that are rooted in our goals, strategies, to the State. have been sent out informing employees of the whistleblower structure and management. The integration of culture and platform which can be used to report unethical conduct. leadership must be an ongoing management process, both from We are however not satisfied with compliance only, but wish shareholder and the local point of view. to go beyond compliance to consistent ethical behaviour. Our New employees undergo the code of ethics induction, whereby Code of Ethics and Anti-Corruption Policy, the purpose of which the company’s code of ethics, the declaration of interest and gift As such, it functions as the backbone of Swakop Uranium, which is to enhance the ethical culture within the Company and to declarations as well the whistleblower platform and how to use it, maintains a competitive advantage and drives sustainable communicate the Company’s stance of zero tolerance toward is explained. development, both now and into the future. Management corrupt practices, alerts staff that management will not tolerate remains committed to ensuring that all the company’s activities corrupt or unethical conduct. Efforts are made to promote ethical On the Swakop Uranium portal, employees have access to the are conducted in a safe, cost-effective and eco-friendly manner conduct amongst staff members and in 2020 we developed an whistleblowers helpline at any time. and with due consideration of excellence and quality to the Anti-Corruption Handbook that was distributed to everyone. benefit of all stakeholders. An Anti-Corruption Handbook was distributed electronically to In accordance with the company’s commitment to ethics, all staff members in December 2020 when international anti- Serious About Ethics – Making It A Way Of Life all personnel are expected to maintain the company’s high corruption day was commemorated, which serves as guidance Swakop Uranium is unequivocally serious about ethics. It is standards of ethical conduct, over and above the mandatory full for employees to act ethically and ensure that they will not make our number one priority, as there cannot be good governance compliance with applicable laws and Government regulations. themselves guilty of corruption and bribery. It was distributed via without ethics. All our stakeholders, including shareholders and There is, however, always room for improvement in terms of our sumis (the online application used for internal communication by employees, are firm that ethics are very important and essential people living a more ethical existence both off-site and on-site, Swakop Uranium) and emailed to all staff. to conducting the business fairly. as they need to learn the company values and consistently live them. Our brand slogan, “More than mining”, and our core value, “Doing things right in one go”, reflect this commitment. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 21 The Ethics committee consists of the HOD: Compliance and Risk Management, the Superintendent: Corporate Legal and any other We regularly provide training in order to promote awareness of co-opted member as per the code of ethics and anti-corruption the Code of Ethics and Anti-Corruption Policy. All new recruits procedure. The Ethics committee is responsible for receiving Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Our Management Approach whistleblower reports, investigating, providing comments on gift Business Continuity And Crisis Management Plan and conflict of interest declarations, etc. This is in line with the In order to ensure business continuity and the ability to deal outline how the Sectorial Business Continuity Management Code of Ethics and Anti-Corruption procedure. effectively with crises occurring, Swakop Uranium has compiled Procedures cover generic risk scenarios. They are: and approved a Business Continuity and Crisis Management Plan •The Emergency and Crisis Management Procedures (ECMP) We have incorporated key ethical principles in mining planning, (“BCP”). This is a comprehensive document, covering all business Procedures; they outline the response plan for emergency development and operations, as well as adopted ethical continuity activities, and describes: and crisis situations to mitigate and restore the business to principles in our closure and rehabilitation policy. Since the • Identified potential emergency or crisis situations; the operational phase, the trust we have garnered from our •Decided countermeasures to prevent their occurrence and development. These are detailed procedures and work instructions that a pre-defined state; commencement of our construction phase, and now through stakeholders has been an asset foundational to our growth and mitigate their effects; • Established responses in case of emergency or crisis situations; • Responsibilities and authorities of the BCP players; •The Work Instructions (WI): they describe activities and channels of internal and external communication, from the initial response to the incident to the return to normal business operations. Our ethical conduct, focused on safety and the environment, • Resources provided for BCP implementation; Security Management Plan helps all stakeholders in our business operations to appreciate •Tools, methods and criteria for identifying and managing Swakop Uranium’s Security Management Plan forms an important what values we aspire to and abide by. emergency and crisis situations; and •Interfaces with crisis management, emergency management The company’s Code of Conduct, as it applies to and emergency response plans, managed by external parties. each: Management is expected to display: Staff are expected to be: component of putting the necresseary measures in place to manage risks and ensure business continuity. It is essential to ensure that the Security Management Plan operates as designed, and to this end, it will be regularly updated as new mining, management and staff respectively, is built on four pillars Heading Body copy 23 Subordinate to the BCP, the following also play an important role projects and processing methods are introduced and changes in the entrenchment and execution of activities to ensure that the required by new legislation are implemented. Husab Mining objectives of the BCP are attained: and Processing Operations Management are required to comply 1.Sectorial Business Continuity Management Procedure (SBCMP) with this Security Management Plan to ensure that all members Sectorial Business Continuity Management Procedures are of staff give the Plan their fullest support, and hence strategic documents detailing the BCP in covering specific business ownership of the Security Management Plan is held by the CEO of • Serving as a role model, • Disciplined, continuity management activities. They outline, and put Swakop Uranium. • Accountability, • Diligent, into practice, the Swakop Uranium Business Continuity & • Business savvy, and • Dedicated, and Crisis Management Procedure, dealing with the potential • Integrity • Developed. emergency or crisis situations related to Swakop Uranium. 2. Detailed Procedures and Work Instructions Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 25 Operations And Production Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Operations And Production “Despite COVID-19, the mining operations recorded their highest production ever, with over 102 million tonnes mined” 27 The uranium oxide (U3O8) produced by Swakop Uranium is mainly All existing systems remain operationally robust, with a fatigue Four Main Mining Methods sold to our primary shareholder at a price higher than the global monitoring system being one of the new systems introduced Open pit is a surface mining technique of market to produce nuclear fuel, while some of it is sold on the to ensure the safety of staff and operations. The quality of ore extracting rock or minerals from the earth open market. delivered to the process plant was also favourable, with an 8% by their removal from an open pit improvement in feed grade. A Year In Which Challenges To Production Continued Processing down measures instituted in March 2020 to combat the spread The Processing Plant run time was 6% below budget. Major of COVID-19 had a negative impact on mining and processing challenges were: operations. Manpower was scaled down significantly and a - Water supply shortage In-situ is a mining process used to recover skeleton crew was temporarily accommodated at the on-site - Conveyor challenges minerals such as uranium through camp to perform priority work. These challenges partly continued - SCADA system faults boreholes drilled into a deposit during 2021. Although the Mine has been able to mitigate some - SAG Mill grate liner failures achieving the budgeted results. underground methods used to excavate minerals, usually those containing metals. Milled tons were 8.45% below budget; affected by low Total Uranium produced in 2021 was 3,902 tonnes of U3O8, just Final product was 11.27% below budget; the major contributors marginally above the 2020 production of 3,893 t U3O8, and well to the deficit were low recovery and low throughput. Jarosite below the annual target. scale formation in various areas of the plant remains a major challenge for the operation, and a key issue to be addressed in 2022. Despite COVID-19, the mining operations recorded their highest production ever, with over 103 million tonnes mined from Zone 1 Water supply shortage impacts were felt in 2021 as well, and and Zone 2 pits, which was 4% above the plan, after rebounding strategies have been put in place to mitigate this situation for from the 2020 COVID-19 challenges. Although ore production 2022. Water consumption for 2021 was 8,329,517m3, at 0.8m3/t, was 3% lower than expected, this was mostly due to resource and 19% above budget. model performance, and the company is working to improve Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Drilling Probing (alluvial) deposits. throughput rate and runtime. confidence in the resource by completing infill-drilling exercises. Staking Placer mining is the mining of stream bed Good Performance Under Strained Circumstances Mining Open Pit Underground refers to the various As was outlined in our previous Sustainability Report, the lock- of the impacts, it did contribute to production performance not MINING PROCESS The major achievement for 2021 was the achievement of one 1 Jarosite is a family of iron-hydroxysulphate minerals that commonly occur in acidic, sulfate-rich environments and mining and ore processing waste. Blasting Primary Mining Equipment 9 Diesel Drills 3 Electric Drills 3 CAT 7495 Electric Rope Shovels 3 Cat 6060 Diesel Hydraulic shovels 1 Le Tourneau L1850 Front end loader 2 Komatsu WA 1200-3 Front end loader Secondary Support Equipment 3 Graders 5 Excavators 9 Track Dozers 4 Wheel Dozers 3 Water Bowsers 2 Fuel Bowsers 1 Low Bed 3 Cable Handlers Compositing Loading Classification of Pit Material Waste Material Sub-economic Ore Low Grade Medium Grade High Grade Very High Grade Hauling Stockpile Waste Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Operations And Production Water – A Critical Resource million milled tonnes for the November production month. “Water supply shortage impacts were felt in 2021...and milling and processing operations continued to be hampered by the inconsistent supply of water” be hampered by the inconsistent supply of water. Milled tonnes As a rule, the treatment of ore by the mining industry is a water-intensive process. This is 400 tonnes of uranium oxide per year. These interruptions were, no different in the case of Swakop Uranium, but – like many mines in the same region and elsewhere in the world – it is situated in an area in which water is a scarce and precious resource. Water use by the mine, the recycling and any disposal of it, always need to be considered in conjunction with the scarcity thereof, as well as the impact the use of water for the year were 8% below target and as a result, saleable U3O8 production was 11% below budget. Over the past five years, the average loss of production due to water supply issues was around inter alia, due to “high sulphur levels” in seawater and shutdowns of the desalination plant. In addition to water supply challenges, some technical challenges and equipment failures impacted the overall performance of the No groundwater is used, and, the bulk of the water used by Swakop Uranium is sourced grade, has recorded lower than planned uranium recoveries. by them from a desalination plant that desalinates sea water from the Atlantic Ocean, for use throughout the Erongo Region. Swakop Uranium is the biggest water user in the region, and uses about 70% of the water supplied by the plant. The capacity of the desalination plant is however such that it cannot supply sufficient water for the full needs of all water users in the region, and is often faced with maintenance-related issues. By the year 2025 there will be a deficit of around 20 million cubic meters in the water supplied from this plant, and the Water Committee at the Chamber of Mines requested a second desalination plant to be constructed to eliminate this deficit. This will also address the issue of increased usage by Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 However, the milling and processing operations continued to could have on people and the natural environment. from NamWater, the Namibian Governmental water supply utility. This water is supplied Water – a critical resource Water supply shortage impacts were felt in 2021 and milling and processing operations continued to be hampered by the inconsistent supply of water. 29 processing plant which, despite an improvement in head feed Furthermore, the impact of COVID-19 on the global supply chain has resulted in challenges with the delivery of spare parts and other consumables. Product shipment and exports were also delayed due to challenges in securing shipping containers and vessels to deliver the final product to end-users. There has also been a significant increase in the price of consumables such as sulphur and fuel, holidaymakers on the coast during December, a period during which supply to the Mine can become critically low. which is used in the production process. The government, through NamWater, is finalizing preparations to start the public-private partnership procurement stage to Amongst the other challenges to efficient production, is the construct this second desalination plant at the coast. reliance of the Mine on the national grid for electricity. Although Given this situation, Swakop Uranium is investigating opportunities of establishing a reliable source of water supply, which plant and 15MW, at full capacity, from the acid power plant, this is will be a cost-intensive undertaking, but with positive influence on the company and community. the mine does generate around 2MW of power through a solar not sufficient to mitigate the risks around a sufficient and costeffective power supply. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Exploration – The Key To A Profitable And Sustainable Future Continuous assurance and extension of the mineral resource on the two license areas, EPL3138 and EPL3439, is an important component of ensuring operational sustainability. Operations And Production Producing In The Time Of Covid - Making Good Use Of Opportunities • 31 Working-from-home for office staff. •Staggered work schedules, i.e. work schedules that would Significant staff shortages were experienced because of allow 50% of crew to come in at one time and others to come COVID-19, with many employees being in isolation, impacting in at a different time. Uranium sadly also lost seven employees to COVID-19, which also Operations are by and large now back to normal, but the Mine impacted operations, employee morale and skills shortages. still has the technology to assist with remote work should it be required going into the future. scarce skills for the mining industry, although the skill becoming available through other mines closing did create the opportunity Continuous assurance and extension of the mineral resource to attract some vital recruits. on the two license areas, EPL3138 and EPL3439, is an important component of ensuring operational sustainability. For this reason, This situation required the Mine to introduce major operational Swakop Uranium is continuously conducting exploration, both and staffing changes and enter the 4th Industrial Revolution. To on existing resources and new prospects, to assure the continued Swakop Uranium’s credit, meetings were already conducted via availability of ore going into the future. The below represents a digital means, which meant that the required technology was summary of exploration activities, the results achieved, and the already set up for the office and staff, making the transition much planning for 2022. less arduous than it would otherwise be. With the different waves in which the COVID-19 pandemic presented itself, came social distancing measures which included encouraging results. •A rock density study was completed to assess the density Ida Deposit: •Completion of an updated resource model for the Ida deposit. Exploration – The Key To A Profitable And Sustainable Future of COVID-19 made it even more difficult to attract talent and •One diamond hole for 250m was completed with of different rock types at the deposit. the productivity and performance of the business. Swakop In addition, the volatile state of the global economy as a result Zone 6: • Significant scope identified for further resource expansion. U6 and U7 Targets: •Detailed geological mapping and radiometric surveys of the target areas were completed. Environmental Rehabilitation •Environmental rehabilitation was completed at Hildenhof and Zone 6 to remedy disturbed areas. 2. EPL3439 Exploration 1. EPL3138 Exploration Hildenhof: •The first reconnaissance RC hole for 250m was drilled to the half capacity on busses and other public transport. This assess the sub-surface uranium-hosting potential of this had an impact on the normal work arrangements, given that target. The hole was drilled in the core zone of the anticlinal the number of employees that could be transported to work structure and returned several intervals of encouraging had been reduced by 50%. To deal with this, Swakop Uranium mineralized intersections above a 100ppm U3O8 cut-off implemented work arrangements which included: which warrants further follow-up work in the future. Geophysical re-interpretation Study •A geophysical re-interpretation study of the entire EPL area completed. •Seven new target areas of potential uranium mineralization were identified. Holland’s Dome •Drilling of 2 RC holes for 431m completed testing continuation of mineralization in the south towards the EPL Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Operations And Production boundary. •Completion of an updated resource model for the Holland’s 33 EPL3439 operators’ performance. •3,000m of diamond drilling at Holland’s Dome deposit to Dome deposit. Significant scope identified for further test the westward extension of mineralization, and do a Going Into The Future resource expansion. resource model update of Holland’s Dome. Over the past number of years, the market has remained suppressed because of reduced demand from major uranium Hildenhof South •Completion of detailed geological mapping at a scale of 1:2000 to better refine target areas. Quality Assurance consumers. Albeit there have been a few spikes in the prices, We pride ourselves on the high-quality product delivered the minor fluctuations that we saw in Q4 2021 are yet to give us by Swakop Uranium. Our Quality Assurance Programme is concrete indications of an improved market. an important instrument for achieving our quality standard. Environmental Rehabilitation Conscientiously and rigorously implemented, the programme Marking the 10th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster ensures that all quality requirements of processes and products in Japan, in 2021, this occurrence still carries negative sentiments are ultimately achieved, which successfully reduces losses and around nuclear power generation, especially in Germany and reworks, and ensures that our clients are satisfied. In 2020, Japan, which has negatively impacted growth and demand for 3. Exploration Activities Planned For 2022 Swakop Uranium developed a Quality Assurance Improvement U3O8. This situation has affected the uranium market price and is EPL3138 Strategy. This strategy identified areas that require improvement predicted to continue over the medium term with recovery only in terms of procedures and forms that include the quality- predicted after 2023. •Rehabilitation was completed at Holland’s Dome to remedy disturbed areas. •2,000m of exploration drilling to be conducted at the Ida deposit. assurance reference to the process, in line with the Mine’s ISO •Geological mapping and radiometric survey to be done 9001: 2015 certification. To this effect, requirements applicable Mainly driven by nuclear power growth and demand in China, at Ida deposit to assess the northward extension of to company processes, international standards, legal issues, Swakop Uranium’s majority shareholder has over the past years mineralisation for up to 2km. client requirements and good practices were established, while supported the business and will continue to do so regarding the policies, procedures and work instructions were developed, well offtake of uranium oxide and cushioning the business against formulated for clarity, and control points identified. lower market prices. A plan was established for the implementation of the Quality However, the impact of COVID-19 in 2020/2021 and the geological modelling of U6 and U7 are to be completed Assurance Programme in 2021, and Swakop Uranium continually challenges with water supply have significantly reduced to better refine target areas for follow-up exploration and constantly pushes forward the Quality Assurance profitability once again. Effective measures are urgently needed planning. Programme. In 2021, SU has been conducting operation to address the water supply issue. The Mine is confident that the standardization and workshop standardization in the operational impact of COVID-19 will start to recede to a level at which it does department, which improved the workshop environment and not have a significant operational impact. •1,000m of exploration drilling to be conducted at Tailings South area to assess the potential for uranium mineralization below thick surface cover. •Further localised geological mapping, surveys, and 3D Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Operations And Production 35 Going into 2022, Swakop Uranium’s short-term strategy is to, at least, achieve breakeven but ideally to gain some level of profitability against the backdrop of increased operational expenditure, mainly driven by increased input prices at least, achieve breakeven but ideally to gain some level of profitability against the backdrop of increased operational expenditure, mainly driven by increased input prices. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 37 People - Employees And Social Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social Swakop Uranium’s vision is to be a world-class Namibian In this process, stakeholder interests are to be maintained and uranium-mining company. All our business activities are protected, even under the most adverse circumstances. structured so that they contribute to the realisation of this vision. 39 Safety improvement since 2018 120 100 These activities are driven and conducted by people, and it is our Uranium mining is considered a high-risk industry due to the primary priority to create a safe working environment conducive hazards associated with it. Much capital is invested to procure to equality, personal development and achievement of every sophisticated, and often heavy, equipment and machinery that employee’s potential. requires continuous maintenance and repair. Convinced that the only way in we can reach our goals and realise our vision is We regard our employees as our most important asset and by prioritising safety, we value safety more than anything else primary priority. In the modern world, which focuses on at Swakop Uranium. Therefore, despite the implications of this individual contribution and unlocking the potential of every capital outlay, the health and safety of our employees remain our employee as opposed to considering employees merely as number one priority. Consequently, training in matters of safety is factors of production, this is non-negotiable. For this reason, both deserved and mandatory. 89 68 80 60 40 20 15,53 7 4 0,7 0 2018 36 27 21 11,84 1 1,29 2019 5,61 4,62 3 5 0,48 2021 3,98 2020 0,19 0,17 -20 LTIFR Lost Time Injuries AIFR All Injuries SHEQ Management Review Process Swakop Uranium ensures that it both creates an optimal environment for safety and growth, and partners with employees Incidents: on the road to achieving the objectives mentioned above. • 3 LTIs, 5 RWDCs, 7 MTCs and 21 FACs were recorded for 2021 • All incidents investigated and corrective measures actioned Zero Harm – Our Most Important Objective Ensuring The Health And Safety Of Our Employees Workplace Safety – Our #1 Priority The company boasts a production facility that maintains the highest standards, which, in turn, necessitates that all our operational areas are in excellent working order. It is Swakop Uranium’s objective to ensure that its Mining and Processing Operations are executed with the highest regard for the safety and health of its employees and the public, and for the protection and preservation of its product and the environment. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 1 Establish requirement for the process (Procedure, agenda, PPT Minutes template) 2 Communicate the requirements to VP and HODs 3 Departmental HOD compile and submit input on PPT Frequency Rates: Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) = 0.45 (2020: 0.17) All Injury Frequency Rate (AIFR) = 5.61 (2020: 3.98) Although these indicators were disappointingly higher in 2021 8 Review requirement for the process (Procedure, agenda, PPT Minutes template 7 IMS Team generate CIA for actions raised and followup on closure 6 IMS Team Compile meeting minutes 4 IMS Team gather and analyze departmental PPT and compile final PPT 5 Management Review Conducted than in 2020, good overall progress has been made with the Mine’s safety performance since 2018, as can be seen from the graph below. Continuous and deliberate measures are SHEQ System consistently being implemented to improve Swakop Uranium’s •Successful re-certification on ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO safety performance, notably by raising awareness. 14001:2015 (Environment) and ISO 45001:2018 (Health and Safety) Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social The Swakop Uranium Emergency Response Team – The Last Defence In Crisis Swakop Uranium goes to considerable lengths to ensure that it creates the safest possible work environment by applying the principles for safety management, preventing and avoiding dangerous occurrences as far as possible. To be prepared for the unforeseen, however, remains critical, and Emergency Response (also referred to as Proto) Teams play an indispensable role in this. These teams are made up by eighteen contracted employees working shifts, six per shift. Each shift has a dedicated Emergency Responds team leader and all members are trained on a specifically prepared Basic Fire Fighting Course. This course is presented by the Swakopmund Municipality Fire Brigade and each candidate received a certificate of competency after completion of the training. Ongoing annual refresher orientation on relevant Emergency Procedures and Work Instructions is done internally to ensure that all Proto-team members are equally familiar with their responsibilities as per procedure. An annual drill schedule provides the emergency drills required as per identified emergency scenarios. Area Team Leaders as well as Supervisors are part of these drills, as subject experts of the Operations and Hazards within their area of operation. Drills are evaluated and where findings had been identified, corrective actions are issued to responsible persons to implement before those actions are closed out. Creating A Safe Working Environment Operation in an environment that is not safe completely compromises all efforts to achieve quality and excellence. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 41 SHEQ Audits - External • External SHE Legal compliance conducted - November 2021 • External EMP audit conducted - November 2021 SHEQ Audits - Internal •4 SHEQ audits were conducted during 2021 as per the 2021 SHEQ Audit programme. External Safety Training 28 Front Line Managers trained on NOSA Integrated Management System Creating A Safe Environment Operation in an environment that is not safe completely compromises all efforts to achieve quality and excellence. Swakop Uranium takes its responsibility for the safety of its employees and contractors, as well as the broader community very seriously and consistently strives to improve its systems, to guarantee optimal safety for all people working on or associated with the mine. Management places the highest value on operational safety and provides detailed information on how it can be attained in the company’s SHEQ Management Plan, which describes all the activities undertaken to meet SHEQrelated requirements. This plan applies to the management of all Swakop Uranium production, projects, contractors, and facilities, and to all operational functions and activities that impact safety, health, environment, or quality. Communicating And Training For Safe Behaviour In 2021, all Swakop Uranium employees and contractors completed the Annual Induction Refresher Course. Furthermore, a lot of resources are invested in the effort to ensure that equipment and machinery are properly maintained and to doubly confirm that no equipment or areas of operation are overlooked. This thoroughness is an element of a strategy to cultivate a culture of safety. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social 43 In addition to the above, safety communication at Swakop allowing only a skeleton crew to attend to essential functions. place to both protect employees and surrounding communities Uranium is achieved through platforms such as Toolbox In 2021, this situation eased somewhat, but still had a significant against the impact of the pandemic while optimising business talks, Safety Meetings, as well an Induction program for new impact on operations, and necessitated the implementation continuity, two requirements that were mutually exclusive in employees offered by the Training Section. Regular Safety of certain measures, as discussed in more detail in Chapter 2: many ways. Campaigns, utilising all these methods and which focus on Operations and Production. Given the potential impact of the pandemic both on people specific issues and themes, are also conducted regularly. Coordinated Management And Mitigation Of The Covid-19 Pandemic At Swakop Uranium and on the business, Swakop Uranium established a COVID-19 conducting risk assessments, contact tracing, prevention, and handling the response of Swakop Uranium to COVID-19 COVID-19 being declared a pandemic in early 2020 necessitated responsibility for all COVID-19-related risks remains. As primary infections at the company, among others. Swakop Uranium to assess the situation and put measures in output of this Committee, a detailed Swakop Uranium COVID-19 COVID-19 and the practical measures implemented, including Management Committee, chaired by the CEO, where Our COVID-19 Response Introduction After raising concerns about an impending pandemic in late 2019, the full impacts of COVID-19 started manifesting during 2020. Due to the rapid spread of the virus in many African countries, also in Swakop Uranium’s area of operation, most governments had to institute measures to curb the spread of the virus. These included not only measures such as the mandatory wearing of masks and hand sanitising but also lockdowns and other arrangements aimed at increasing social distancing. In accordance with this, the Namibian Government, informed by the global trend, declared a state of emergency whose duration was six months, between March and September 2020, which included a nationwide lock-down that confined most people, including Swakop Uranium employees and their children of school age, to their homes, to curtail the further spread of the virus. The lockdown caused operations at the mine to be suspended, Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Figure 1: COVID-19 prevalence during 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social Management Plan was compiled, which outlines the formal approach taken in combatting COVID-19 and the practical No Task Team Responsibilities 1) Responsible for approval of COVID-19 implementation plans and expenditure; measures implemented, including conducting risk assessments, contact tracing, prevention, and handling the response of Swakop Uranium to COVID-19 infections at the company, among 45 1 others. Communication Management 2) Responsible for communicating the status of COVID-19 management to CGN/URC/GRN and other relevant stakeholders; 3) Responsible for publicity of COVID-19 Management (external and internal); and 4) Responsible for COVID-19 Management plan inspection and compliance The COVID-19 Management Committee was also made responsible for communication with the Ministry of Health and 1) Responsible for onsite people reduction plan; Social Services, as well as advising senior management regarding best practices for mitigating the risks associated with COVID-19. People movement 2 and environment control The COVID-19 Management Committee was supported by five task teams, each with the responsibilities for execution of the 2) Responsible for people movement control including commuting, travelling, etc.; 3) Responsible for Temperature monitoring on busses and other key areas; 4) Responsible for hand sanitiser management (entrances of Bus and building); 5) Responsible for decontamination of high exposure risk areas around the site; and 6) Responsible for Camp management Management Plan as outlined on the right: 3 Operation and stock management 1) Responsible for optimization and implementation of the management and business continuity plans; 2) Responsible for material purchase, distribution and stock management &control; and 3) Responsible for internal communication with employees (Briefings, Ding talk) 1) Responsible for security reception and checkpoint management; 4 Emergency 2) Responsible for the on-site treatment of suspected symptoms; response 3) Responsible for on-site case confirmation and management; and 4) Responsible for the case investigation 1) Responsible for all employees’ health status management; 5 Data Management 2) Responsible for all cases tracing and their status following; and 3) Responsible for developing applicable IT systems to optimize COVID-19 management Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social 47 Employee Health and Wellness Dust Suppression Occupational Health And Safety the mining area, we employ chemical dust binders that are added Our operations inherently involve high-risk activities that to water and then sprayed on the primary and secondary roads. Radiation – A Normal, But Unseen, Part Of Everyday Life potentially expose employees, contractors, suppliers and other Dust binders also contribute to water conservation, consequently What is radiation? stakeholders to hazards that may be of a physical, safety or assisting our attempt to reach our water-saving targets. •Radiation is ENERGY, which travels as waves or particles, health nature. Swakop Uranium has an Occupational Health and Dust suppression is undertaken in the mining and plant areas. In Radiation Exposure Management emitted by a source, either natural or man-made and Safety Management system in place to guide activities around Noise Exposure Management occupational health and safety issues. Identification of noise-risk areas was accomplished by conducting or hear radiation – but it can be measured! The exposure to a baseline-risk assessment of the mine. Subsequently, an annual radiation is measured in Sievert (Sv). We use milli-Sievert Air Quality Monitoring monitoring plan was established to monitor both personal- and (mSv) which is a thousandth of a Sievert. Air-quality monitoring is used as a management tool to area-noise exposures to quantify the risk and level of exposure. effectively monitor air pollution that is related to Husab Mine Similar exposure groups (SEG) monitoring is conducted electrons from an atom (This is the dangerous one that we activities. Addressing the effects of air quality on personal every week as per the programme. A hierarchy of controls is should be concerned about as it can be harmful to human and collective health is essential if our operations are to have implemented based on the level of risk in the respective areas. cells) a positive impact on people’s lives. We strive to minimise the Additional controls, such as approved hearing protection, are impact of our operations on air quality and to keep the levels of provided to employees, ranging from disposable earplugs and emissions in the air within legal limits. We mine in an arid region detachable earmuffs worn with hard hats, to custom-made and our most significant air-quality issue is the production of hearing protection in the form of the noise-ban hearing device dust, i.e. particulate emissions. Prolonged dry periods, coupled for employees exposed to high levels of noise pollution. As part with increased temperatures and winds, increase the amount of of Swakop Uranium’s hearing conservation programme, medical dust that is generated by our operations. We promote continuous surveillance is also conducted on an annual basis in the form operational improvements to reduce particulate emissions of audiometric tests. This method of monitoring also helps to and manage air-quality risks by implementing the appropriate identify any potential noise-related health problems at an early standards. These standards provide a framework in which we stage, thereby preventing hearing damage from developing monitor and manage emissions of dust that may pose a risk further. transferred through space. You cannot feel, smell, see, taste •Ionizing radiation is radiation with the ability to remove to people, fauna and flora. In doing so, we reduce the adverse effects on the health of our workers and ensure that we comply with all regulations regarding air quality. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social Background Radiation Man-made Sources of Radiation • Natural background radiation is everywhere, no matter where • Density Meters you live • Natural background radiation in Erongo Region is around 1.8 mSv/a of particle, which also points at the origin of the symbol for radiation • Cosmic radiation e.g. from aeroplanes • Smoking • Nuclear Power Plants • World average is in the region of 2.4mSv/a • Medical X-Rays • Can be much higher in certain places e.g. Ramsar region of • Smoke Detectors – Americium Northern Iran – around 50 mSv/a Ionising Radiation emits three kinds 49 • Television and computer screens, computer equipment Namibia has legislation in place to safeguard workers, members Swakop Uranium conducts comprehensive occupational, of the public and the environment against the harmful effects radiation-exposure monitoring to fully quantify radiation of radiation. This includes the Atomic Energy and Radiation exposure by way of diverse exposure pathways. Occupational- Protection Act, 2005 (Act No. 5 of 2005) and the Radiation exposure monitoring of workers at the Husab Mine is conducted Protection and Waste Disposal Regulations, 2011. The National by monitoring SEGs in which workers find themselves in the Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) is the custodian of Act proximity of one another due to the nature of their job activities No.5 of 2005 and is tasked with ensuring that the Act is adhered and the potential occupational health hazards associated with to by all licensees including Swakop Uranium. The NRPA’s such activities. SEG doses represent actual occupational radiation responsibilities include authorising, licensing, inspections and exposure doses absorbed by workers. enforcement to ensure compliance with legislation. The National Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) visits Swakop In accordance with the Act and Regulations, Swakop Uranium Uranium site annually to inspect the implementation of the has an NRPA-approved Radiation Management Plan (“RMP”) Radiation Management Plan. In 2021, the Authority conducted an in place that outlines how Swakop Uranium will comply with inspection from 10 to 12 August to mainly familiarize itself with Namibian legislation regarding radiation safety. The Radiation the situation of the TSF wall and to gain a better understanding of Safety Officer (“RSO”), who is assisted by Radiation Officers and the proposed heap leach project. No major issues were recorded. Radiation Assistant in the Radiation and Occupational Hygiene Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Section to implement the RMP at SU, is legally responsible for the All permits are valid, and all reports are submitted according implementation of the RMP. to schedule. This includes the Swakop Uranium Product export Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social 51 permit, the Sealed Source Permits, the Radiation Generator pro-actively limiting exposure of workers through the application Pregnancy And Post-Natal Management permits and the NRPA Annual RMP Implementation report. of relevant control measures. All female employees at the mine are required to immediately declare a pregnancy to the Radiation and Occupational Health Radiation awareness forms an important module of the general induction that all employees and contractors need to complete before being allowed in the workplace. This Radiation Module deals with all pertinent aspects of radiation, including: Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 • The prevailing legislation and regulations; • The RMP and accountabilities in terms thereof; • What radiation is, and the different types of radiation; • Ionising radiation and the sources thereof; • The health effects of radiation; • The different exposure pathways; • Swakop Uranium’s Radiation Exposure Control measures; and • Dose limits and occupational exposure monitoring; Most effective section as soon as their condition is detected, as per the Swakop Uranium’s approach to Radiation Management company’s Pregnancy and After-birth Management-at-Work Procedure. The primary focus of the procedure is to re-assign pregnant employees working in hazardous areas to safe areas Physically remove the hazard Elimination Substitution Replace the hazard Engineering Controls Isolate people from the hazard Administrative Controls Change the way people work PPE Protect the worker with Personal Protective Equipment Least effective where health risks, specifically radiation exposure, can be limited for both the mother and her unborn child for the remainder of her pregnancy. Uranium-In-Urine Testing TEA Lab cc is the only service provider in Namibia that conducts the analysis of uranium in urine samples. All employees who have worked in high-risk areas have been monitored in 2021. The results were well below the warning level of 20 μg/L. Personal Gamma Monitoring Of Final Product Recovery Workers Work-Area Monitoring Emergency Preparedness Different work areas at the mine are periodically assessed to The security at Swakop Uranium is guided by the Security In addition to SEG monitoring, operators at Final Product proactively identify any adverse changes in exposure conditions. Management Plan, supported through various procedures and Recovery (FPR) plant are issued with electronic personal Work-area dosage measurements are used to alert management work instructions. Our operations always carry the potential dosimeters (EPDs) every month. As per Swakop Uranium’s area and workers of changes in exposure conditions in work areas, for creating emergencies and we maintain a high degree of classification, the FPR is classified as a controlled area and poses thereby facilitating the timely application of corrective controls emergency preparedness with appropriate plans and ongoing the highest exposure risk at the mine due to the amount of to keep actual exposure doses to workers as low as reasonably training of emergency personnel to minimise the impact of an time and close proximity spent by operators to the final product achievable (ALARA). The exposure pathways that are monitored emergency on workers, the environment, and our operations. during the drumming and container packaging stages. EPDs are in the various work areas are Our approach to emergency management is guided by our used to monitor gamma exposure due to radiation produced by • inhalation of long-lived radioactive dust (LLRD), Business Continuity and Crisis Management Plan from which the the final product and serves as an early-warning system to allow • inhalation of radon progeny, and Continuity and Crisis Management procedure was formulated, timely detection of high gamma-radiation exposure and thereby • direct external radiation exposure following international best practice standard that is observed Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social globally by emergency personnel. 53 Number of employees per age group Husab Mine maintains highly trained emergency response teams 85 and first-aid workers. A site clinic is manned by a senior sister. Our recruitment strategy focuses on recruiting the best talent to transfer skills to alleviate skill-shortage challenges, now and in the future. Diversity and Equal Opportunity Swakop Uranium 257 remains committed to the implementation of the National Two fire trucks, two fully equipped ambulances, an 8,500-litre Affirmative Action (AA) Policy, and the company received an AA water bowser with a water cannon, a fully equipped emergency Compliance Certificate in 2021. trailer and a spill trailer are constantly on standby status so they 1350 Origin of our workforce - 2021 (%) can respond instantly in the event of an emergency. A total of 161 area-specific, first-aid specialists and 129 area-specific, fire marshals support the mines’ emergency preparedness. All visitors to the mine are subjected to a comprehensive safety induction, <30 31-50 51> 2% 2% Namibian which includes details of our Emergency Response Plans. Shareholder secondees (Chinese) demographics. In 2021, the company’s ‘Namibianisation’ effort Our Employees stood at 96 per cent Namibian, as has also been the case during Local Employment comprised of shareholder secondees, and two per cent is people Namibia being rich in mineral resources, mining will remain a the two preceding years. Only two per cent of the workforce is from other countries. crucially important component of the national economy. Given Other countries 96% the ongoing growth and development in the mining sector, As our main shareholder has a wealth of experience in the including both mining and exploration, a shortage of skills in the field of nuclear operations, some employees are seconded to Putting Affirmative Action Into Practice industry is reasonably anticipated. Given Namibia’s comparatively strengthen the team and are engaged in transferring skills to To assist implementation of the policy’s requirements, our small population of 2.6 million people, and the presence of local employees. Affirmative Action Consultative Committee was established. The committee’s activities are governed by the AA Charter. The four large operating mines, one of the industry’s challenges will remain skill shortages, as mines tend to poach expertise from one Swakop Uranium also hires from neighbouring countries such as committee meets quarterly to discuss matters about AA. The Vice another. South Africa, Botswana and other Southern African Development President: Human Resources reports to the CEO on the progress Community (SADC) countries, while always being guided by our of implementation of its annual plan, while the CEO remains the purpose of building internal capacity. individual who carries overall accountability for AA. Swakop Uranium has made significant strides in its effort to employ a workforce that is representative of Namibian Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social 55 Using Employment To Uplift Namibia’s People Transfer Of Skills To Local Employees however, the scarcity of skills in the mining sector, together with A total of 93 per cent of our workforce is from previously The company has appointed Namibian understudies for each the small population of Namibia, give rise to a significant level of disadvantaged groups. Traditionally, the mining industry’s non-Namibian employee to promote the process of skills “poaching” by other mining companies, especially of more senior workforce demographics have been male dominated. However, transfer. The ongoing progress of the understudy programme employees, notably those with specialised skills. because it is a company principle at Swakop Uranium, we enjoy is monitored every quarter. Swakop Uranium fully supports the a two-way relationship between employer and employee; Government’s strategy as it is outlined in the Affirmative Action No discrimination is made based on gender in determining the company engages the workforce in discussions aimed at Act and will continue to drive its AA policy in tandem with its remuneration. Remuneration scales used relate to the skills and improving and giving a helping hand to the community at large. ‘Namibianisation’ plans. position level and are consistently applied across gender (and other potentially discriminatory) lines. Promoting Gender Equality Enhancing Employee Relations To promote gender equality in decision-making, the company One of the strengths of Swakop Uranium over the past year was Developing Our People has continued to increase the number of women in senior that the labour climate was stable and conducive with no strikes. Given the emphasis on “Namibianisation” and the development positions and other key roles. Women currently represent 12 per This stable labour situation is largely ascribed to the employee of the required skills locally, the development of our people to cent of the total workforce. The company has further committed relations approach followed, which aims at strengthening the equip them with the knowledge and skills required to make an itself to employing persons with disabilities at all levels, as we employer-employee relationship. This is done through the optimal contribution, and realise their self-growth, takes very continue the implementation of our AA agenda. effective identification and resolution of issues, and continuously high priority with Swakop Uranium. Gender diversity in the Workforce 88 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 the employee relations function in the position to contribute to The process consists of identifying employees with the potential Swakop Uranium’s performance management system. to grow and develop into positions of more responsibility and then selecting them for appropriate training and development 12 Male measuring employee satisfaction and morale. This also places Female Employees have the freedom to join a union of their choice, and courses that will aid them on their way to fulfilling their potential. organised labour has the right to collective bargaining once Almost 100% of employees are retrained or have received they have reached defined thresholds in terms of membership refresher training on safety and compliance. At supervisory and numbers. managerial level, 100% of the workforce receive training annually. Employee Retention Swakop Uranium provided various types of training to Given the remote location, as well as the development and employees, as outlined briefly below. A training recipient is retention programmes implemented by Swakop Uranium, our usually guided and assisted by a mentor throughout their employee turnover rate is relatively low. As mentioned elsewhere, graduate programme with support from the Organisational Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social 57 Development section. Once a graduate has achieved competency On-The-Job Training at the end of their training period, they are appointed to Michael Undari This training is carried out when an employee moves into a new substantial positions. role. The employee receives practical training while he functions Graduate: Human Resources 01 Jan 2016 to 30 Apr 2018 Officer: ER 01 May 2018 to 30 Jun 2019 Senior Officer: ER 01 Jul 2019 to date in the new position under the guidance of a senior employee Total expenditure on employee development was N$15,7 million, who has experience. The senior employee provides exposure a 14.6% increase on the N$13,66 spent in 2020. This is well in line while performing the specific tasks the job entails. with accepted standards. Internal And External Training Interventions Job Attachment 15 Oct 2018 to 14 Apr 2019 Graduate: Mechanical Engineering 15 Apr 2019 to 14 Apr 2021 Engineer: Projects 15 Apr 2021 to date Total Graduates: N$ 3.5 mil Internal and external training interventions are targeted training expenditure Job attachments: N$ 2.9 mil that develops an employee’s skills or teaches him or her new on skills Training staff: N$ 0.6 mil skills to perform their duties more efficiently and effectively. SU shines the spotlight on its female graduates making development Bursaries: N$ 0.6 mil Succession Planning and Career Progression Frameworks headway in the company. in 2021 (N$m) External training: N$ 1.9 mil Succession planning is the process of identifying key roles within “My experience as Swakop Uranium graduate started in April (To include Training Material: N$ 0.1 mil Swakop Uranium that are critical to the business and ensuring 2019, and I must say that it has redefined my image of what it VET levy) VET Levy (rebate deducted): N$ 6.1 mil that the development of adequate skills is fostered within the takes to make it in this industry. This has been a roller coaster of company rewarding ups and downs and character building. But as a whole, Total: N$ 15.7 mil I would not change a thing. My program revolved around a grand Graduate Programme Employee Development Success Stories in Brief The aim of the graduate programme is to introduce Namibian Employee graduates into the Mine’s career pipeline and provide them with Uarikapi Tjaimi the practical experience required to become the Mine’s future Graduate: Mining Engineering 03 Aug 2015 to 30 Apr 2018 chemists, metallurgists and engineers. In this way, we can use Engineer: Drill & Blast 01 May 2018 to 28 Feb 2022 Senior Engineer: Technical 01 Mar 2022 to date internal promotions to fill most of the vacancies that occur in substantive supervisory and managerial roles, meaning that the incumbents in these roles have come from within the ranks. As such it forms an indispensable part of our succession planning Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Othilie Hoveka Time Frame juxtaposition of being a trainee, whilst being empowered to be a manager at the same time. I am enjoying my new role as a Project Engineer, which requires one to think fast on your feet and even faster on that calculator! Every day brings a new challenge, but I am well equipped to tackle those challenges. A bonus to my story is that I am currently the only female Mechanical Engineer at SU, which has given Efraim Amukwaya Job Attachment 03 Sep 2018 to 30 Jun 2022 Junior Artisan 01 Jul to date me the opportunity to stand out and challenge the stereotypes associated with women in technical careers.” - Othilie Hoveka Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social 59 Self-Study Assistance Marco’s Story – An example of how Swakop Uranium Employees who have been in the employ of the company for at assists employees in their personal development least 12 consecutive months are eligible to apply for financial assistance in form of an interest-free loan to study toward a Marco Bolte is a Senior Operator: Control Room who was formally-recognised tertiary qualification. afforded an opportunity to complete his Work Integrated Learning (WIL) as per requirement towards the attainment of his Human Resources degree. Skills Competitions And Continuous Improvement Incentive Scheme The employees of Swakop Uranium are regarded as the company’s He was exposed to all sections of HR namely, Recruitment, greatest assets. To develop employee potential, the company Payroll and Benefits; Training and Employee Relations and continues to encourage employees to remain competitive by did quite well in all areas. He noted that he would possibly developing their skills. In 2020, the company formalised the want to specialize in Employee Relations as this area Internal Skills Competition to inspire and provide a platform that interested him more. recognises excellence among employees, drives positive behaviour for safety and increases production. The Continuous Improvement Origin of our workforce - 2021 (%) 2% 2% Other countries Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Incentive Scheme continued to attract valuable ideas from our to the University on what he has learnt, and he was employees who were rewarded for their effort. applauded for having the best presentation because of the well-organized capacity building efforts provided by the Employee Training And Development company. Mining Maintenance Department Artisans: Riggers Namibian Shareholder secondees (Chinese) 96% Once done with his WIL, he had to bring forth a presentation Development He graduated because of the opportunity granted and Artisan Riggers is one of scarce trade across the country, and has been appreciative of all the assistance granted by the difficult to recruit and retain. SU decided to train Assistant Riggers company in his quest to grow professionally. to become fledged Artisans. At present, there is no training centre in the country to train the Riggers. The Training Section Where requisite skills are missing, the company develops internal gave practical on-the-job training to six Assistant Riggers to capacity to ensure business continuity. Currently, career- prepare them for trade assessments in South Africa. To date, all six progression frameworks are in place for artisans, artisan assistants Assistant Riggers have done the trade assessment at the Training and fleet operators. Center in South Africa and have been found competent. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And and Social Social Training stories Epson Kamendu’s training journey 61 in April 2019. In May 2019, he again approached Swakop Uranium that he always will have. Based on the comments of those in to ask for advice on assistance in going for his trade test as he had South Africa with whom he had come into contact, he has completed his N2 and passed all subjects. been a good ambassador for Swakop Uranium, as they were all impressed by him. In February 2020, training was offered to train the rigger Background: assistants and to transfer skills. Epson saw this opportunity “I would like to take this opportunity thank to Swakop Uranium for Epson started working on-site to renew his quest for achieving his goal and immediately making my journey possible. First and foremost, I would like to thank in the construction phase of started to show that he had the quality and the heart to be an my trainer Mr. Trevor Brock and my team leader Mr. Norman Sawab the Husab mine in 2013, first artisan rigger. The commitment that he showed in gaining his for the continuous motivation and skills transfer. Secondly, Mr. for China State Construction technical qualifications at his own cost clearly indicated his Fredinand Kanyemba and everyone else that helped and supported Company and then for Group 5 determination to achieve his goal, which convinced the relevant me on this journey of realising my dream of becoming an Artisan Construction until May 2017. In line management at the Mine that he would be the rigger that Rigger and finally the training department from Swakop Uranium that time, he showed great interest in working for the mine after was needed for Swakop Uranium. The trade test centre in South for making my journey possible” construction and submitted his updated CV a few times to make Africa was contacted, and the Mine was requested to submit his sure that it reached the Human Resources Department. qualifications to them to see if he would be accepted to do the Epson Kamendu – Artisan Rigger. trade test, and the response was positive. Hearing the news that During the interviews for rigger assistants, he showed that he the end goal was reachable, more effort was made by Epson, and had sound knowledge of rigging and an eagerness to be part every spare minute that he had he was busy making sure that his of the Swakop Uranium team. He started working for Swakop preparation was sufficient. Uranium in June 2017 and after a few months, he approached the Company to ask how he could be qualified as an artisan Once the dates for the tests had been received, all was expected rigger. It was explained to him that the first requirement was that to go without a hitch, but then COVID struck. It then became a he should apply to do his National Certificate N2 at the trade challenge to get him there in time safely. With the teamwork of test centre in South Africa and that there was no test centre for Swakop Uranium and Epson’s maturity in knowing the dangers rigging in Namibia. He immediately contacted Technicol South and the precautions of contracting COVID, he has gone to trade Africa and enrolled to do the N2 course 2 subjects at his own cost. and came back safely and with a positive pass mark for his trade He also contacted South African Qualifications Authority in SA to test. send his Namibian qualifications to them to verify. He achieved the first two subjects in November 2018 and the other 2 subjects Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 This shows the commitment that he has had and that we believe Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social Forging Sound Relations With Our Social Stakeholders Introduction Swakop Uranium places a very high value on its relationships with all stakeholders and prioritises effective engagement with various stakeholder groups. The nature and approach of our engagement with stakeholders need to be seen against the backdrop of the environment and jurisdiction in which the Husab Mine is located. Namibia, being an arid country with the second-lowest population density in the world, is rather unique for having comparatively high levels of education and being considered a middle-income country, as well as being regarded as one of the African countries with the best growth potential. At the same time, more than half the wealth in the country is owned by about 10% of the population, leading to a significant portion of the population being severely impoverished. Other factors playing an important role, and which need to be kept in mind when engaging with stakeholders, relate to the cultural diversity within Namibia, and historical inequalities, some of which have not been eliminated 30 years after independence. The physical location of Husab Mine within the Namib-Naukluft National Park places it in an arid, and particularly sparsely populated area of high environmental sensitivity. This results in the mining community connected to the Mine being the biggest Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 63 and most prominent social stakeholder. The dual relationship, A Consistent Approach And The Way Forward therefore, between the Mine and its employees – i.e., both as Swakop Uranium will continue needs-analysis research to gain employees and community members – introduces additional a better understanding of the Namibian demographics and to complexities in the relationship with them, hence the need to identify communities that are severely hit by poverty. In addition, ensure that engagement is thorough and effective. we will continue to identify and evaluate our stakeholders, and Our Approach To Engagement With Stakeholders ensure that engagement plans with them on topics of mutual interest are engaged in such a way that the outcomes are in the Swakop Uranium follows a formalised process in order to engage best interest, and provide the most benefit, to those in whose with stakeholders on a planned and structured basis and ensure lives the Mine’s operations can make the biggest difference. that we maintain positive relations by taking note of their views, concerns and needs. We will endeavour to uphold a consistent approach to poverty alleviation by working with communities and helping them to For this reason, our stakeholder relations approach is contained become self-reliant, as empowerment will provide a foundation in a structured Stakeholder Engagement Plan, which is constantly for raising the quality of life for previously disadvantaged updated in order to keep it a living document and to address Namibians. The sections below deal with our efforts in the issues raised as they arise. The aim of this plan is to ensure that aforementioned regard in more detail. appropriate engagements are scheduled with stakeholders and that the issues addressed are relevant to both the stakeholders and the Mine. The objective is to build, maintain and improve relationships with stakeholders, in the interest of mutual understanding and benefit, through effective and continuous communication and active engagement. The company keeps a formal Complaints register where all external grievances once reported to the company are logged, investigated and feedback provided to the aggrieved parties. The Grievance process also includes a close-out report which can only be achieved once the matter has been fully addressed and all parties have been briefed. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social Our Key Stakeholders Stakeholder Grouping Organisation 65 Stakeholder Grouping Organisation Government Parastatals NamPort; NamWater; NamPower; TransNamib; Roads Authority; Erongo Red; Telecom Namibia Internal Stakeholders Shareholders Swakop Uranium / Husab Mine staff Stakeholder Grouping China General Nuclear Power Company China-Africa Development Fund Epangelo Mining Company Swakop Uranium Board Senior Management Employees of Swakop Uranium and Husab Mine Labour unions Organisation Government Services (Arandis, Namibian Police, MHSS Clinic, Magistrate’s Office, Post Office, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay) Telecom, NATIS Business Neighbouring Mines / Rössing Uranium; Areva Resources; North River Resources Exploration companies (Namib Lead and Zink); Bannerman (Etango), Langer Heinrich Uranium; Valencia; Reptile Uranium and Zhonghe Resources. National Chambers and Industry; and National Chamber of Environment (including Government Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Chamber of Mines of Namibia; National Chamber of Commerce Local and regional government – councillors and key officers Arandis Town Council, Erongo Regional Council, Municipality of Walvis Bay and Municipality of Swakopmund Government Ministries • Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT); - Directorate of Environmental Affairs - D  irectorate of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP);• • National Heritage Council of Namibia • Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME); • Ministry of Education • M  inistry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF); - Department of Water Affairs; • M  inistry of Health and Social Services (MHSS); • N  ational Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) • Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare; • Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security; and • Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications. the local representatives of these chambers). Local Businesses Various in Arandis, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay Contractors / Suppliers Contractors providing sub-contracting services to Husab Mine Environmental Environmental Foundations Namibian Uranium Association; Namibia Uranium Institute; and Environmental Non- Namibian Coast Conservation and Management Project Governmental Organizations (NACOMA); Southern Africa Institute for Environmental (NGOs) Assessment (SAIEA); Earthlife Namibia; Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN); Wildlife Society of Namibia; Namibian Nature Foundation (NNF); World Wildlife Fund in Namibia (WWF); Namibia Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS); National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) Future generations Future generations dealing with aspects such as a waste legacy and climate change Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social Developing Our Communities Societal Educational Institutions Social Non-Governmental 67 The University of Namibia, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Namibian Institute of Mining and The Positive Impacts Of Swakop Uranium On Communities Technology (NIMT) Primary and secondary schools in Arandis, Swakop Uranium places a high value on Corporate Social Responsibility and endeavours to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay contribute to community projects that potentially have a long-lasting and positive impact on our Rössing Foundation; Namibia Non-Governmental host community, as well as the larger Namibian demographic landscape. Organizations (NGOs), Churches Organizations’ Forum (NANGOF); Walvis Bay Corridor Group; Fauna & Flora International (FFI) Media Newspapers: The Namibian; Allgemeine Zeitung; Die Republikein; Namib Times; Namibian Broadcasting Corporation Other interested and affected Any other people with an interest in the proposed project or parties who may be affected by the proposed project Residents of Informal settlements; Home owners/tenants in Arandis, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay Local farmers Farmers in Swakop River Valley and near Usakos (includes weekend farmers and subsistence farmers) International Tourism groups Coastal Tourism Association of Namibia (CTAN); Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) Other countries Recipient countries of the uranium products International organisations International Atomic Energy Agency International Council on Mining & Metals International Standards Organisation (ISO) Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 outlined in the National Development Plans and the UN Global SDGs. The years 2020 and 2021 were however of an unprecedented nature with the emergence of a global health crisis, in the form of COVID-19, which warranted governments and industries to come up with urgent measures to preserve life. Swakop Uranium responded to the call of Government for support from the business community Residents/ Community Residents Swakop Uranium continues to make good progress in terms of aligning its CSR targets with those during the first and second waves and more so when the third wave collapsed the Health-Care System in Namibia, causing a shortage of oxygen supply for life support and hospital beds countrywide. Swakop Uranium major donations were in the following areas: •Sourcing of oxygen concentrators for donation to the Ministry of Health & Social Services •Stationery supplies and COVID-19 PPE for the Namibian Police: Erongo Unit •SME Development & Poverty Alleviation programs to marginalized communities •Donation of Oxygen to Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) •Donation of beds and Mattresses for the establishment of temporary COVID-19 treatment stations • Sanitary pad drive for underprivileged girls • Monetary Donation to One Economy Foundation Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social 69 A Responsible And Engaged Corporate Citizen Contributing To Community Health Thanks to this donation, primary medical facilities at the different Swakop Uranium is widely represented on various councils and As mentioned in the list of major donations above, Swakop levels in the region were able to use the items to provide oxygen committees such as the Chamber of Mines Namibia where our Uranium donated oxygen concentrators to the Ministry of Health to many patients especially those who did not need high Vice President, Irvinne Simataa, served as Vice President on the and Social Services. Although the main objective of this donation oxygen flow. Moreover, it created the ability to provide oxygen Chamber Council. Swakop Uranium also holds the Chairmanship was to equip local medical facilities with oxygen supply during concentrators on a loan basis to patients who were oxygen at the Namibia Uranium Association. the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, these oxygen generators dependent but needed to continue using these as needed once serve as a valuable resource post the pandemic, enabling they are discharged from the hospital. Swakop Uranium employees occupy various positions on a number of bodies and councils supported by the company, such According to the Director of Health Services in the Erongo as the Erongo Development Fund. Region, Ms Anna Jonas: “The support is highly appreciated, and it also reduced cost in terms of procuring oxygen cylinders because Housing most facilities were and are able to provide oxygen to patients Namibia continues to face the challenge of inadequate housing using the oxygen concentrators which do not need to be refilled”. for its citizens. We believe the housing issue poses a serious two years, the company has actively sought to find ways to assist Swakop Uranium Contributes To The Fight Against Covid-19 employees to secure permanent homes for themselves and their After a drastic increase in COVID-19 infections, hospitalisations families, which included the formation of a Swakop Uranium and deaths in the country, Swakop Uranium (Pty) Ltd, through Housing Committee, as reported in our 2020 report. the Swakop Uranium Foundation, donated 170 sets of Beds problem, as it adversely affects our employees. Over the past and Mattresses together with linen to several district hospitals The company remains in talks with relevant Local Government which included Windhoek, Omaruru, Rehoboth and Usakos as institutions and in consultation with the office of the regional an immediate response to strengthen Namibia’s fight against Governor to secure land for sale at an affordable rate for its facilities to have oxygen on hand when needed. They were COVID-19. These beds will be utilized in the new COVID-19 employees in Swakopmund, Walvisbay and Arandis. The distributed to hospitals, clinics and health centres in the region, facilities that are being put up to accommodate patients that discussions have been very progressive as all parties work which improved service delivery for patients across the spectrum need care but do not find space in the local hospitals. together and are dedicated to delivering affordable housing to and not only COVID 19 patients i.e. patients who present to the SU employees. facilities with respiratory problems such as asthma are being An assessment of the situation at the time brought about the assisted using the donated items. realisation that there is nothing more important than saving lives, given the unprecedented challenges faced by a surge of Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social the COVID-19, in order to ensure our health and the well-being of our fellow citizens. Then more 71 Su Sanitary Pads Drive Benefits Approximately 1000 Girls In 2021 than ever we needed to stand united as a country and show support to relieve the medical and emergency services who were at the centre of this fight. Swakop Uranium Spreads the Christmas Spirit to DRC! In the spirit of giving, Swakop Uranium donated Christmas hampers to the residents of the DRC community, an initiative started in 2019. A total of 22 households received Christmas hampers, which included various staple foods as well as hygiene consumables and COVID-19 prevention necessities. Mr. Qiu Bin, CEO of Swakop Uranium, personally handed over the hampers to each of the recipients at the Husab Tower. Mr. David Eiseb, who heads a household of nine children and thirteen grandchildren expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Swakop Uranium by stating how blessed he feels by the donation. He went on to say that he left his home with barely anything in it and with this kind donation he is able to provide his family with a meal for the next few weeks as well as a good Christmas Meal. He thanked the company for remembering him and for this charitable deed. Ms. Hileni said that she is very happy that Swakop Uranium blessed her with this kind donation so she The SU Sanitary Pads Drive is an initiative aimed at making provisions to school–going girls in can enjoy her Christmas with her five family members. poor communities. Multiple studies have found that girls in low-income settings miss or struggle at school during menstruation if it is not possible for them to effectively manage their menstrual All the beneficiaries left with a grateful heart and a smile on their faces. Swakop Uranium endeavors to hygiene which often comes with a stigma. contribute to the community and lend a helping hand wherever possible. The company will continue to support the community throughout its life of mine. Local Procurement Swakop Uranium continues to uphold its commitment to the attainment of National Development Goals and subsequently a better future for all Namibians. Value addition refers to the impact we have on, and the value we add to, people’s lives, the region in which we operate, and the Namibian Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 The Swakop Uranium Foundation embarked on two Sanitary Pads Drives during 2021 to collect voluntary donations of sanitary pads. The campaign also focused on educating the community on the challenges faced by young girls in the community because of a lack of sanitary pads. A total of 2300 packs were distributed to girls in the Okombaye settlement just outside Usakos as well as at Tutaleni High School in Walvis Bay, between 7 – 9 December 2021. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 People – Employees And Social 73 economy at large. It includes taxes to the Namibian Government, payments to employees in the form of salaries, wages and benefits, payments to suppliers for services delivered and investments Auto-Fix – A Case Study In Women Empowerment in communities. As the largest employer in the mining industry, Swakop Uranium has a significant Melody Van der Merwe worked for Auto Fix for 10-years before taking over as owner, on 01 stimulating impact on the local economy. February 2019, after the previous owners went on retirement. Swakop Uranium local procurement spend runs into billions of Namibia dollars annually, and as a Auto Fix recently became an SU vendor, primarily working on the De-rusting project where contribution to a competitive Namibian economy, we appreciate the impact of local procurement. they are credited to be doing an excellent job thus far. Swakop Uranium observes the highest standard of ethics during the execution of the procurement process. Community Support To Impoverished Persons Due to the very unequal distribution of wealth and resources in Namibia, a significant percentage of people continue to languish in poverty, especially in marginalised communities such as those in closest proximity to our operations. The consequences of poverty create an obstacle to the attainment of SDGs, as studies have shown that poverty contributes to an increase in the number of social problems that include school dropouts, teenage pregnancies, human trafficking, sexually transmitted diseases and crime, among others. To alleviate some of the consequences of poverty, Swakop Uranium continues to support communities with donations of food to ensure that people - especially children in coastal communities - receive necessary nutrition. As such, children in the DRC Settlement in Swakopmund, as well as the Arandis community in the Erongo Region, have received food aid during the reporting year. The company is also committed to further investigating ways to ensure that this support inspires self-sustenance and builds resilient communities by complementing donations with activities such as household gardens and commercially-grounded green schemes. Alicia, the Marketing & Sales Manager at her mother’s business describes the business as a Technical ‘One-Stop-Shop’, specializing in mechanicals, exhaust systems, panel beating, derusting, spray-painting and more. The contract with Swakop Uranium seems to have come at just the right time for them, after a contract with a previous client ended. “Swakop Uranium is really supporting the local economy, many businesses are benefiting either directly or indirectly.” Says Melody. According to her, Client Relations is key to their success, adding that they always try to not fall short on their commitments by staying truthful. Auto Fix is a fully women-owned business which believes that a business can thrive if owners adopt a Hands-on Approach. For this family, Auto Fix is just not a business but a passion. Melody says that she draws her inspiration from her 7-year son who has Down Syndrome, and she is convinced the little boy will grow to become an engineer one day, as he loves to take things apart, saying: “We are building the business for him.” As part of their future CSR Plans, Auto Fix wants to support special needs children to become the best versions of themselves “Those children are so special and very talented” Melody concludes. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 75 Environment And Biodiversity Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Environment And Biodiversity 77 Overview – Mining In A Very Special Part Of The World Uranium is proud that the Husab Mine has been able to retain its recommendations of the EIAs are clarified for the design, There is a saying in the mining industry that, if you want to find ISO14001: 2015 certification during a third-party audit conducted construction, commissioning and operational phases of the minerals, you need to go and look in the most unlikely and in 2021. project and for all exploration activities. applies to Husab Mine, with its location in the world’s oldest Swakop Uranium is committed to ensuring that the Husab Mine The Environmental Section is responsible for assisting the desert, the Namib. As such, its area of operation falls within the is constructed, commissioned and operated to the highest CEO and other managers in all environmental and community Namib Naukluft National Park. environmental standards. With this in mind, a number of issues, and specifically to ensure that the commitments as set Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) have been completed. out in this EMP are implemented during the design, operations, Given this precious environment, and sensitive ecosystem, The aim of these EIAs was to identify both potential positive and decommissioning and closure phases. Swakop Uranium approached operating in this environment negative impacts and to identify methods to mitigate negative with the necessary care and responsibility from the onset. Taking impacts to acceptable levels. inhospitable places. Although this is not true in all cases, it indeed This includes the following aspects: •Regular inspections and auditing compliance to this EMP care of the natural environment is therefore not only a matter of compliance but is embedded in the culture of the Mine and the Following on from the EIAs, Swakop Uranium has developed and any other relevant legal requirements e.g. permits and way we do things. an Environmental Management Plan(s) (EMP) in which the authorisations; •Conduct environmental awareness training during induction Our Approach To Environmental Management Workplace Awareness programmes to sensitise and To maintain our operating licence, Swakop Uranium must educate employees about environmental issues constitute ensure compliance with a range of diverse laws and regulations an important part of Swakop Uranium’s Environmental monitoring, required by permit and authorisations issued to that govern our activities. Over and above endeavouring to Management Programme. Topics addressed during 2021 Swakop Uranium by relevant authorities; comply with all environmental laws, regulations and permit included: •Ensure compliance to this EMP, permits and authorisations issued to Swakop Uranium by relevant authorities; requirements of Namibia, the Mine has been certified in terms of the international ISO 14001:2015 standard for environmental • World Wildlife Day management. • Strong Winds (weather) as reporting related to monitoring and with regard to • National Clean-Up Day compliance with the EMP, permit and relevant authorisations; ISO 14001 is an internationally agreed standard that sets out the • Park Rules requirements for an environmental management system. It helps •World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought organizations improve their environmental performance through • World Ocean Day external stakeholders such as authorities and interested more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste, gaining • World Tourism Day and affected parties on environmental management (where a competitive advantage and the trust of stakeholders. Swakop Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 training and on an ad hoc basis thereafter; •Conduct scheduled monitoring, as well as any additional •Submit required information to relevant authorities such and •Liaise with Swakop Uranium Management and various required). Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Environment And Biodiversity 79 Internal audits are conducted on a bi-annual basis, and external ensure that we remain committed and able to carry out our National Park, one of the oldest national parks in Namibia. The audits are conducted annually. Bi-annual reports are compiled commitments at end of life of mine. mine is located between two ephemeral rivers, the Khan and Swakop Rivers. There is a high degree of biodiversity in the mine’s and submitted to the Namibian Government. Regular meetings and site visits are conducted with Government stakeholders in Biodiversity licence areas, which include protected, endemic/near-endemic order to ensure that compliance is continual. We acknowledge that our operations inherently pose a risk species and species of conservational significance. to biodiversity, as well as to the communities that rely on the 2021 Environmental Highlights environment, directly or indirectly, for their quality of life and In biodiversity management, the focus is not primarily on •We’ve had several third-party compliance engagements with livelihoods. Our aim is to avoid such harm where possible or to individual species management, but instead the identification of mitigate it when we cannot avoid it. various habitats and assigning of sensitivity ratings. The Husab team strives to address any potential adverse The list below contains some of the restricted-range endemic, re-use in 2021. All new building extensions and office units impacts on fauna and flora from our operations through specific protected and near-endemic species of conservation concern have been built out of the salvaged panels from previous mitigation measures, as well as integrated-management found to occur in the surrounding area and/or on the Husab accommodation materials used in the construction camp. practices impacting land and water. Our efforts to mitigate Mine. The full list, as captured in the Environmental Impact •Large volumes of wood have been donated to community- our impact on climate change should also benefit the local Assessment and Specialist studies, can be made available on environment. The Mine maintains a close working relationship request. the ministries throughout the year – going so far as to include © Thomas Schoch, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons MEFT park officials during our annual external EMP audit Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 •There has also been a major drive towards salvage and based projects, helping out small businesses. •We ran two successful environmental campaigns during with the Government. Advanced imagery mechanisms and 2021, focusing on waste segregation and hosting a clean-up other technology that augment our understanding of the area In line with Namibian legislation requirements, a Biodiversity day. We have seen a positive trend in waste segregation post- are constantly used to monitor any form of environmental Environmental Baseline Impact Assessment was conducted campaign during all inspections. encroachment. Appropriate data is recorded and submitted to •Swakop Uranium has also developed a mobile app for the relevant government departments. incident management, making reporting and close-out more accessible to most of our staff. •We have also strengthened and expanded our monitoring capacity by including several new monitoring sites. Part of We strictly adhere to all relevant legal and permit requirements, as well as those governing engagement with relevant local stakeholders. the expansion of our monitoring network has included newer technologies that were trailed throughout the year and will Protected Species Found Near Husab Mine see further investigation and implementation in 2022 As outlined in the introduction, Swakop Uranium’s Husab Mine •In 2021 we have also initiated our mine closure planning to operates in the north-eastern corner of the Namib Naukluft Figure 1: The Welwitschia mirabilis is a plant that is endemic to the Namib Desert in Namibia and southern Angola, and can be found in the vicinity of Husab Mine. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Environment And Biodiversity 81 Flora Fauna Species Conservation Status Species Conservation Status Aloe namibensis Protected, Least Concern, Cites ll Equus zebra hartmannae Vulnerable, Spec. Protected Game Lithops ruschiorum Protected, Least Concern Pronolagus randensis Restricted Range Aloe asperifolia Protected Ictonyx striatus Near Threatened Commiphora saxicola Protected Oreotragus oreotragus Restricted Range, Spec. Protected Game Acacia erioloba Protected Polemaetus bellicosus Near Threatened (Nam: Endangered), Protected Game Commiphora oblanceolata Near Treatened Aquila verreauxii Near Threatened, Protected Game Faidherbia albida Protected Phoenicopterus minor Vulnerable, Protected Game, Protected Species Welwitschia mirabilis Protected, Least Concern Pelecanus onocrotalus Vulnerable, Protected Game, Protected Species Pedioplanis husabensis Data Deficient during the feasibility stage of the mine. Based on this study, Hartmann’s mountain zebra movements have been identified measures were instituted to mitigate the impact of operational for continued monitoring. activities on the local and regional environment. Studies are ongoing to improve our understanding of our write-up in progress. •Perennial shrub health and Husab Sand Lizard monitoring to • occur should activities/footprint of the mine increase. Climate Change And Energy Usage No further monitoring needed for gerbils. Societal expectations regarding actions to prevent climate potential impact on certain species through a five-year scientific change remain high. Responding to these expectations today, research programme with Gobabeb’s Namib Ecological A monitoring protocol has been developed for the Husab Mine to more than ever, will require businesses, governments and Restoration and Monitoring Unit (NERMU). assist with the continued and/or future monitoring. citizenry to work hand-in-hand. Commensurate with our large Biodiversity Monitoring Several post-graduate studies form part of the NURMU/SU Long- dependent on a continuous energy supply. We are aware of Good progress was made during 2021 on the NURMU/SU Long- term ecological monitoring and research framework. The status the high demand for energy for both industrial and residential term ecological monitoring and research framework. of these are as follows: consumption, and for the importance of exploring more cost- •PhD degree: Riparian vegetation health Thesis write-up in efficient methods for resource utilisation. The Monitoring Framework for the Husab Mine contains the outcomes of a five-year period study. •Welwitschia Health, Riparian vegetation health and Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 •MSc degree: Husab Sand Lizard habitat preference Thesis water requirement, the Husab mine’s operations are highly progress. •PhD degree: Welwitschia ecohydrology data collection in progress. Swakop Uranium currently generates up to a maximum of 15 megawatts of power from the steam turbine that utilises heat Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Environment And Biodiversity Water – A Critical Resource Water supply shortage impacts were felt in 2021 and milling and processing operations continued to be hampered by the inconsistent supply of water. discharged from the acid plant, which is an environmentally friendly process. Additionally, a 12-megawatt solar plant is under construction to 83 possible in the design and operation of our mining site and Meteorological Quarterly Campbell Weather Station Summary monitoring results for 2021 tailing storage facility (TSF). We strive to avoid permanent Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2021 impacts on water resources in rivers and groundwater aquifers, and return to the environment. The mine returned 4,659,776m3 of Ave 21.84 25.23 18.50 19.54 project. Phase I covers an area of approximately 155,000 m2 Humidity (%) Ave 61.58 29.75 44.10 54.96 and has a rated installed capacity of 12MW. Phase I is pre- Wind Speed (m/s) Ave 3.44 4.57 3.69 3.17 the TSF returned water was approximately 5,938,911m3 of water commissioned and connected to the Husab mine 132/33kV Dominant Wind Direction DWD NW NE NE WSW for reuse in the process. Most recently in 2021, the volume of TSF Rainfall (mm) Total 7 1.7 0 0 Mist (mm) Total NA 3 32.8 18.6 support mine operation. The solar plant project is a two-phase consumer substation with a 33kV voltage. The 12MW plant is expected to be connected to the grid during Q3 2022. The construction period was around 10 months and will be water from the tailings storage facility (TSF) in 2019 while in 2020 water returned was approximately 6,641,533m3. We are also sensitive to the impact of climate change, which Water Management already affects rainfall and water security in Namibia. This Water is a key element of our operational environmental footprint awareness demands a collaborative, proactive approach that and a critical resource we share with people, wildlife and the unites a diverse group of local stakeholders. Swakop Uranium is Due to the nature of the mining activities, noise and vibration environment. Using water responsibly is a vital part of being a member of the local Coastal Bulk Water Users’ Association and monitoring are done at several sites to monitor both internal a good corporate citizen and is integral to our environmental works closely with the local bulk-water supplier, NamWater. and 3rd party potential impacts. This is done to measure among policy and procedures. For this reason, our water system is largely others, air blast in decibels (dB) and Peak Particle Velocity (PPV) in a closed circuit, with 52% of water being recycled. operational for a period of 25 years. Noise and Vibration millimetres per second (mm/s), in line with subscribed standards. To establish, monitor and manage the potential impacts of Swakop Uranium’s operations on groundwater, both the quality To maintain our licence to operate, we take all reasonable steps and quantity (i.e. dissolved solids and the levels of groundwater) to ensure that we do not degrade water quality or compromise are monitored continuously at Husab Mine. The ability to monitor The use of meteorological data from accredited equipment is an the access rights of other users. While our operation has a large groundwater effectively is also being improved continuously. additional tool which assists with understanding Husab Mine air water requirement, using water to access and process uranium quality aspects/impacts and biodiversity management. Swakop oxide and manage dust, we are aware of the water shortage in Tailings Management Uranium currently utilises the Campbell Scientific weather our country, and more specifically the shortage at the coast. Responsible tailings management is an integral part of our Meteorological Data Aiding Air Quality Management station at Marble Ridge, with support from the E- Samplers Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 and carefully manage the quality and quantity of water we use Temperature (°C) environmental management approach. We operate a closed meteorological stations. The observations per quarter are For the mine to remain sustainable, we need to carefully monitor loop system with a major focus on water recovery. In 2021, we included in the table below. and manage water usage according to our Water Management successfully returned 51% of tailings water back to production Plan. Swakop Uranium strives to use water as efficiently as through our advanced recovery systems. Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Environment And Biodiversity Waste Management And Segregation controlled waste disposal sites. Swakop Uranium’s waste-management approach complies with •Disposal occurs off-site at Walvis Bay & Swakopmund Landfill Namibian and international standards. Waste is managed in a sites or Rent-A-Drum Recyclable Facility. Mineralised waste manner that ensures the protection of water, soil and air. An & radioactive waste that cannot be ‘cleaned’ is disposed of effective waste management system is being implemented on on-site. Certain materials are stockpiled as salvageable, to be Husab Mine, whereby facilities are colour coded, labelled and reused at a later stage by operations. appropriate for the waste disposed of on-site. The measures taken to ensure the above include: Environmental Radiation Monitoring And Compliance •All waste is separated at source to limit costs incurred by Environmental Radiation Monitoring is conducted every two landfills and removal companies and to limit pollution. Waste years, and no updated information relating to the 2021 reporting is classified into the following: period is available. - Non-hazardous and non-radioactive waste; - Hazardous & non-radioactive waste; Environmental Training And Awareness - Medical waste, Hazardous and Husab Mine’s EMP provides detailed information on how the -Radioactive contaminated hazardous and non-hazardous environmental impacts of mining and processing activities can waste. • be avoided, mitigated and minimised. Training interventions The following principles will be applied: are an essential element for communicating both the potential -Minimisation: reduce the amount of waste generated impacts and necessary steps to be implemented in the work through planning, design, use of approved suppliers, areas by staff, service providers, contractors and/or visitors to controlled procurement, separation etc. minimise these impacts. Topics addressed in training include, -Reuse and Recover waste: as far as practical, waste must but are not limited to, safety and security, biodiversity, surface be reused. Packaging materials should, for example, be water, stormwater and groundwater, resource use, air quality, returned to the supplier. If reuse is not possible, reusable soil, visual disturbance, waste management, noise, radiation materials must be recovered and sent to recycling facilities. and archaeology. Environmental induction, specific awareness -Treatment: whenever required or if possible, treat any waste to reduce risk to the environment. -Disposal: where none of the above is achievable, then 85 Environmental Clean-Up & Housekeeping Campaign Results In Benefits All-Round Swakop Uranium staff & contractors on site were encouraged to collect litter waste items from the surrounding work areas, as a form of housekeeping, and turn it in for a reward. The more effort, the better the reward, and employees and contractors were not limited to the amount of waste that they could bring in. The following volume of waste was collected 824 Black Bags collected 1 755 kg of waste collected training, monthly slogans, Toolbox Talk Topics, posters, and environmental campaigns, to name a few, are examples of the different kinds of training provided. waste must be safely disposed of at well-managed and Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Environment And Biodiversity Planning For Mine Closure 2. The Husab Mine RRCP Committee was established; Responsible closure of our mine site will be an essential element 3.The Social Mine Closure Action Plan has been submitted to of our commitment to provide long-term environmental conservation to the area in which we operate. In an environmentally sensitive area such as the Namib Naukluft National Park in which the Husab Mine is located, the transition 87 EXCO for review; 4.The Swakop Uranium Mine Closure Stakeholder Database is in progress; 5.The Stakeholder Engagement Strategy for Social Mine following mine closure has the potential to create significant Closure: Husab Mine, Erongo Region, Namibia has been socio-economic challenges, if not carried out correctly. revised, (now Version 4). Rehabilitation At Mine Closure Planning for mine closure remains a continuous process, with Swakop Uranium is legally obliged to clean, make safe and the Rehabilitation, Restoration and Closure Plan continuously restore the area of, and surrounding, the mine and related being updated with new information and adjusted to changed infrastructure to an acceptable state at the end of the life of mine. circumstances. The company had already planned the measures for mine closure during its design phase, which considered all aspects of the mine’s infrastructure and site from construction and operation to decommissioning. The Husab Mine Rehabilitation, Restoration and Closure Plan (RRCP) is a living document that evolves in its complexity, beginning with the mine’s design phase, through construction, the operating life of the mine to eventual decommissioning, closure and post-closure. The following progress has been made with mine closure planning for Husab Mine during 2021: 1.The final Swakop Uranium – Husab Mine Rehabilitation, Restoration and Closure Plan (2021) has been received Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Notes Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021 Notes 89 Swakop Uranium Sustainability Report 2021