Swakop Uranium, a subsidiary of China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), has signed a joint venture agreement with NamWater for the construction of Namibia’s second desalination plant, located near Swakopmund in the Erongo region. The facility aims to “secure water supply for the Husab uranium mine,” the world’s largest open-pit mine, as well as to “support the needs of local communities.”
According to a joint statement released on December 9, 2025, negotiations have now been finalized, paving the way for the implementation phase. The joint venture, named Erongo Sunam Desalination Project, will be owned 70% by Swakop Uranium and 30% by NamWater.
The statement notes that the next steps include the official registration of the company, detailed engineering, environmental studies, financial structuring, and construction planning.
Planned since 1998, the plant will provide an annual capacity of 20 million cubic meters of water, ensuring a stable and competitive source for the Husab mine as well as other mining operations and surrounding communities. Husab remains the largest water consumer in the Erongo region and the second largest in the country after the capital, Windhoek.
