In the arid yet mineral-rich Erongo Region of Namibia, a Chinese-invested mining firm is not only extracting uranium but also spearheading community upliftment. The Swakop Uranium Foundation, affiliated with the Chinese-backed uranium mine, has launched Phase 2 of its “Hope Farm” programme – donating 1,008 goats and sheep, valued at approximately N$3 million (USD ≈ 173,000), across three cooperatives in the Erongo region. The initiative builds on an earlier phase in July, when 630 animals were given to 30 beneficiaries, and now expands support to a total of 48 households.
The Chinese partner, China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), affirmed that their mission goes beyond mining: “Our aspiration is to make Husab into a world-class green mine, a model of shared growth and cultural integration,” said CGN board director Li Li.
Swakop Uranium, through the Husab mine joint venture with Namibia’s state-owned Epangelo Mining Company, has already made significant economic contributions: in 2023 alone, the company injected N$7.9 billion into the local economy, created over 6,000 jobs, and sourced 62 percent of its procurement from Namibian suppliers.
The Hope Farm programme is among several social-investment efforts. Earlier, the firm supported education in Erongo by funding a feeding facility at Westside High School for 250 orphans and vulnerable children.
These initiatives reflect the evolving dimensions of China–Namibia relations, which have long featured mining-infrastructure cooperation. The Husab mine, one of the world’s largest new uranium developments, was established with Chinese investment and celebrated its 10th anniversary after launching in 2013.
Namibia, the world’s third-largest uranium producer, is receiving increasing attention from China as the Asian power seeks secure, clean energy fuels amid its domestic nuclear expansion. Earlier reports indicated China’s interest in pairing uranium supply with closer cooperation in Namibia’s green-hydrogen and desalination ambitions.
For local communities in Erongo, the benefit is clearer livelihoods. Herding livestock creates alternative income streams, reduces vulnerability in coastal and mining towns, and links the extractive economy to rural resilience. As Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy Gaudentia Krohne noted, uranium is becoming a strategic export and must translate into local job creation and sustainable development.
The broader context is one of deepening China-Africa economic relations where cooperation is shifting beyond infrastructure to social investment, capacity building, supply-chain integration and diversification. Namibia’s partnership with China, anchored in mining, now also encompasses community programmes, digital-inclusion support and local procurement.
Still, challenges remain. The success of such programmes will depend on meaningful local participation, environmental safeguards, water-resource management in a drought-prone region, and alignment with Namibia’s long-term industrial goals.
