Namibia is accelerating efforts to secure the chemicals vital for processing critical minerals, with two major sulphuric acid projects announced to meet fast-rising demand from its uranium, copper and manganese industries.
Green Metals plans Walvis Bay hub
London-based Green Metals Refining confirmed a significant investment to build a sulphuric acid plant at Walvis Bay, adjacent to its proposed manganese refinery. The first phase will cost about $59 million and is designed to produce 175,000 metric tons of sulphuric acid a year. The company expects output to rise to 720,000 tons annually as the facility scales up.
Chief executive Derk Hartman said Namibia’s dependence on imported sulphuric acid and a pipeline of acid-intensive mining projects provide a strong case for local production.
‘As Namibia is a net importer of sulphuric acid with a large pipeline of acid-consuming projects, we have established a compelling business case that can benefit local third-party metals projects,’ Hartman said in a statement. Both the manganese refinery and the sulphuric acid plant are scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2027, aiming to supply uranium and copper mines across the country.
Vedanta revives Skorpion operation
In a separate development, Indian conglomerate Vedanta said it will recommission a sulphuric acid plant at its Skorpion zinc operations in southern Namibia. The facility, inactive since 2020 when the mine went on care and maintenance, is set to produce about 1,000 tons a day once restarted within the next four to six months.
Vedanta officials noted that the revived plant will not only support zinc processing but could also serve regional acid requirements for other critical mineral projects.
Strategic green-energy push
Sulphuric acid plays a central role in leaching and processing metals such as uranium, copper, manganese and rare earth elements—key inputs for clean-energy technologies including solar panels, wind turbines and electric-vehicle batteries.
Namibia is the world’s third-largest uranium producer and is advancing eight active critical minerals projects. These ventures are intended to position the country as a leading supplier of materials essential for the global shift to renewable energy.
Economic and industrial benefits
Industry analysts say the twin projects will help reduce Namibia’s reliance on imports, stabilise prices for domestic miners and attract downstream processing investment. The developments are also expected to create construction and operational jobs, while boosting revenue from the growing green-energy value chain.
‘Local sulphuric acid production is a strategic advantage,’ said a Windhoek-based mining economist. ‘It lowers costs for existing uranium and copper producers and strengthens Namibia’s negotiating power with international investors focused on critical minerals.’
With global demand for clean-energy metals surging, Namibia’s decision to expand sulphuric acid capacity underscores its ambition to become a hub for responsibly sourced resources and a key player in the renewable transition.
Credit: Africabriefing
