Osino Gold Exploration and Mining (Osino) has proposed the construction of a Surface Water and Sand Storage Dam on the Khan River in a bid to secure water supply for its Twin Hills Gold Project.
The dam project aims to address water scarcity concerns in the Central Areas Network of Namibia where the Twin Hills Gold Project is located.
SLR Environmental Consulting (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd, appointed as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP), is overseeing the Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the proposed Surface Water and Sand Storage Dam.
Osino has submitted an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) application to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, signalling a pivotal step in the regulatory process.
The Twin Hills Gold Project, situated 25km northeast of Karibib within the Erongo Region, is anticipated to operate for a 13-year life-of-mine with a projected design processing capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum.
According to the Draft Scoping Report to sustain operations, the estimated water demand stands at 1.1 million cubic meters per annum (m³/a).
While groundwater from the Karibib Marble Aquifer currently serves as the primary water source, Osino is exploring alternative options to enhance water security.
“The proposed Surface Water and Sand Storage Dam on the Khan River presents a promising solution. With the potential to store 1.32 million cubic meters of water annually from runoff and flood transmission losses, the dam offers a vital reservoir for sustaining mining operations,” said the report.
Moreover, the assessment highlights that the coupled system of surface and groundwater storage maximises supply potential, providing a higher total storage capacity on the Khan River.
“Hydrogeological modelling indicates that the proposed dam could store 785,953 cubic meters of surface water annually, supplementing the groundwater storage capacity. Additionally, the feasibility of Managed Aquifer Recharge to the marble aquifer adjacent to the Surface Water and Sand Storage Dam is under consideration,” the DSR noted.
The report said that the approach aims to enhance the sustainable utilisation of local groundwater sources by injecting abstracted surface water into the aquifer.
Dundee Precious Metals Inc. is in the process of acquiring Osino Resources Corp.
