The Erongo police arrested a truck driver who was suspected of stealing 25 000 tonnes lithium ore from his employer, which is worth N$300,000.
The theft is believed have occurred between 22 and 24, November.
The ore was mined at farm Kohero, near Omaruru, on the Chinese-owned Xinfeng Investment mining.
Zuxiao Li, the mine manager, opened a case for theft at Omaruru Police Station.
The arrest was confirmed and confirmed by Nikolaus Kupembona.
The driver was supposed delivery the ore to Walvis Bay for export, but instead he delivered it to someone in Karibib.
“The suspect has since been identified and apprehended at Omaruru,” he said.
Kupembona stated that the suspect’s truck was found parked at Walvis bay.
He would not reveal any further details but said that more suspects could be arrested.
MORE THAN LITHIUM
Xinfeng is suspected in exporting other minerals disguised as lithium ore. Namibia does not have the necessary laboratory equipment to test the actual content of the ore being shipped to China.
Last week, Tom Alweendo the minister of mining and energy stated to the National Assembly that the company had indicated in its mining licence that it had a resource estimation for eight million tonnes ore with an estimated lithium content about 1%.
The mine’s mining license 7228 was granted in August, and expires in 2042. It indicates that Xinfeng is a miner of base and rare metals, industrial mineral, and precious metals.
According to a source within the ministry, lepidolite, the host rock for lithium, is being exported.
“The same rock has lithium, tantalum, rubidium, tantalite tin and other rare earth minerals. The ministry only does very limited testing. It does not tell you exactly what you are dealing with,” the source said.
According to the source proper testing can only take place in South Africa, Canada and Australia, as well as China.
“We do not know what is being exported. It does not make sense for Xinfeng to export so much ore. Their target may not be on lithium, it may be on another rare earth mineral that is not listed on our list of minerals,” the source said.
Xinfeng can export 135 000 tonnes (or so it is believed) of lithium until tomorrow. Only lithium has been paid royalties to the mine.
“They are running at a loss if indeed it is lithium they are looking for. They are onto something else, and the ministry is not woke enough to ask what it is that the Chinese are looking for,” the source said.
Andreas Simon, spokesperson for the Ministry, did not respond to questions he was asked last week.
Source: namibian
