Canadian mining company B2Gold has invested N$400 million in Namibia’s Otjozondjupa region through its Otjikoto Mine, renewable energy initiatives, and socio-economic development projects over the past six years.
B2Gold Country Manager John Roos said the mine has served as a catalyst for large-scale investment in the region, including a N$200 million contribution toward independent power production.
“In a matter of six years, we leveraged investments of N$400 million into Otjozondjupa through this mine being there,” Roos said.
He confirmed that renewable energy assets such as the 7MW Otjikoto Solar Plant will continue to supply affordable electricity to the national grid long after mine closure, expected around 2032.
“These plants will be pumping back into the grid, providing green energy to Namibians at a very affordable rate,” he said.
In preparation for life beyond mining, B2Gold is in the process of establishing a standalone operating entity to manage its non-mining assets.
Roos noted that the new company will own and operate infrastructure such as the solar plant, 18,000 hectares of farmland, and agricultural projects currently under development.
“We are looking at the concept of establishing a separate operating entity outside of the mining company that owns the non-mining assets. We are working towards establishing that in 2026, building the business up through the life of mine until 2032,” Roos said.
He explained that the entity is intended to become a profitable business, generating revenue to fund social investments through a trust structure.
“The trust will form the B2Gold Foundation, which will allow us to continue ploughing back into communities to support social responsibility investments,” Roos added.
Since 2013, B2Gold has invested over US$16.6 million (approximately N$240 million) in corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects in the region, with a focus on education, health, environment, and livelihoods.
“We invest in long-term projects with impact. We made a once-off donation of two million U.S. dollars during COVID time to the Office of the Prime Minister to combat the effects of COVID-19,” said Roos.
Key initiatives include the Ombili Clinic and Ombili Primary School in Otjiwarongo. The school, built from scratch, initially accommodated 1,300 learners and was expected to reach 1,500 by the end of 2024 before being handed over to the Ministry of Education.
The company has also begun addressing water scarcity in Otavi through infrastructure upgrades. Phase 1 of a water reticulation project has been completed, with Phase 2 set to begin shortly.
“It’s not up to us to decide what we need to build, it’s up to the people. Water is life in a way,” Roos said.
B2Gold also continues to expand its agricultural venture, which began in 2019 and now covers 180 hectares of irrigated farmland used for maize and wheat production.
“We’ve seen record yields between 13 and 14 tons of maize per hectare. The project is really becoming very successful for us,” Roos said.
