Mining Journal Supplement in October 1992
Namibia: Abundant COUNTRY Exploration SUPPLEMENT Opportunities able to exploration companies. This new supplement provides the international finan- cial and exploration community with a re- view of the progress and success achieved over the last five years, and of the opportu- nities awaiting potential investors in this dynamic and geologically prospective coun- try. Situated in the western half of the south- ern African subcontinent, Namibia encom- passes an area of over 824,000 km². It has a hot and dry climate. Rainfall is extremely variable, ranging from less than 200 mm in the south to about 800 mm in the northeast. With less than 50 mm average annual rain- fall, the coastal Namib Desert is one of the DebMarine diamond recovery vessel. Offshore diamond most arid places on Earth. Only the Kunene, recovery is set to increase its share of total output Okavango, Zambezi and Chobe/Linyanti rivers, along Namibia's northern border, and Namibia is currently developing one of southern Afri- the Orange River, which forms the south- ca's most dynamic mineral industries, a trend that is set to ern frontier, are perennial. The Kalahari continue well into the next century. Since 1992, explora- Desert, with an average rainfall of less than tion expenditure has increased by more than 500%, and 200 mm, extends over the eastern part of today more than 60 companies are actively exploring the the country, bordering Botswana and South exciting potential of Namibia's mineral sector. Recent ex- Africa. It is separated from the Namib by a ploration and investment initiatives have already led to high inland plateau that reaches elevations the proposed development of two major base metal of over 2,000 m and is covered by shrub projects at a cost of over US$750 million; these will more and mixed tree savannah.
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