Namibia is moving fast to secure the chemicals needed for processing critical minerals, with two major sulphuric acid projects now underway. The push comes as demand spikes from the country’s booming uranium, copper, and manganese industries.
Green Metals bets big on Walvis Bay
London-based Green Metals Refining has announced a $59 million first-phase investment to build a sulphuric acid plant at Walvis Bay, right next to its proposed manganese refinery. The facility will initially produce 175,000 metric tons annually, with plans to expand output to 720,000 tons by 2027. CEO Derk Hartman said Namibia’s heavy reliance on imports and its growing pipeline of mining projects make local production both strategic and profitable.
Vedanta revives Skorpion operations
At the same time, Indian giant Vedanta is set to restart its sulphuric acid plant at the Skorpion zinc mine in southern Namibia. Idle since 2020, the plant will soon churn out 1,000 tons per day, meeting both zinc-processing needs and regional demand for other critical minerals. The restart is expected within the next four to six months.
Fueling the renewable transition
Sulphuric acid is a key input in extracting metals like uranium, copper, manganese, and rare earth elements—all vital for clean-energy technologies such as solar panels, EV batteries, and wind turbines. With eight active critical minerals projects, Namibia is already the world’s third-largest uranium producer and is positioning itself as a central player in the global renewable energy supply chain.
Economic and strategic gains
Experts say these projects will cut down import costs, stabilise prices for local miners, attract new investment in downstream processing, and create jobs. “Local sulphuric acid production is a strategic advantage,” one mining economist in Windhoek explained. “It strengthens Namibia’s hand with international investors and lowers costs for its miners.”
By boosting local acid capacity, Namibia is not just supporting its mining industry—it is also carving out a strong role in the world’s shift to green energy.
