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UNESCO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Forestry (MAWLR) and the Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM), convened technical experts and coordinated two stakeholder meetings on 'The Impacts of Uranium Mining in the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System', in Pretoria, South Africa, on June 13-14, 2024, and in Mariental, Namibia, on June 17, 2024, respectively, in response to the Namibian government's request for technical assistance in assessing the effects of mineral exploration on vulnerable groundwater resources in the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System.

The Stampriet Aquifer, an artesian aquifer that extends across Namibia's borders into Botswana and South Africa, has been declared a Subterranean Water Controlled Area due to its substantial groundwater potential, which requires preservation. As a result, the number of exploration, prospecting, and mining licenses granted for exploration and mining inside the Stampriet Artesian Aquifer System is important not only for Namibian communities but also for those in the two neighbouring countries that depend on the Aquifer for freshwater. UNESCO was thus invited by the Government of Namibia to provide technical assistance owing to its previous efforts in this area under the “Governance of Groundwater Resources in the Transboundary Aquifer” project from 2013 to 2022.

The meetings were organized with the aim to enhance understanding of the in-situ leaching (ISL) process - which is a mining process used to recover minerals such as copper and uranium through boreholes drilled into a deposit, identify sustainable water management strategies, exchange knowledge from regional and international experts, recommend policy and regulatory frameworks, and foster regional and international cooperation for capacity building among stakeholders.
 

42 people attended the expert meeting in Pretoria, which included international experts from Australia and the United States, as well as representatives from the UNESCO Regional Office for East and Southern Africa, the UNESCO Windhoek Office, the MAWLR, UNDP South Africa, ORASECOM leadership and secretariat, and water and environmental experts from Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. The diversity of participants permitted a rich exchange of information and knowledge, and facilitated the formulation of relevant recommendations. 

The high-level discussion in Mariental, drew 137 attendees and gave citizens' a forum to voice their concerns about the risk of mining or, conversely, the loss of economic prospects should mining be prohibited. Notable attendees at this high-level meeting included Ministers, the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa, Chiefs and Representatives of Traditional Authorities, Local Authorities, representatives of NGOs and mining companies, water experts, community members, and the media. 

During the deliberations at both meetings, it was widely acknowledged that there is inadequate baseline data and information available for a comprehensive assessment. As a result, more scientific information is required to assess the impacts of ISL mining on the Stampriet Aquifer System. Furthermore, it was proposed that regulators and local academics be trained on ISL and groundwater management. As a follow-up, the UNESCO expert advisory report, which contains recommendations, will be presented to the Government of Namibia for its careful consideration and to facilitate informed decision-making regarding the matter.