Water for life and industry

By: Angie Scholtz

The Orano Erongo Desalination Plant is a seawater desalination facility located in Namibia, near the coastal town of Wlotzkasbaken in the Erongo region.

It was originally built by Orano (formerly Areva) to supply water to the Trekkopje uranium mine. However, due to the mine’s suspension, the plant now primarily provides desalinated water to other industrial users and municipalities in the region, including the town of Swakopmund and nearby mining operations.

The plant, commissioned in 2010, is the largest desalination facility in Southern Africa.

It uses reverse osmosis technology to produce potable water from seawater, helping to address Namibia’s water scarcity challenges, especially in the arid western parts of the country.

Given the region’s reliance on limited freshwater sources such as the Omaruru Delta and the Omdel Aquifer, the desalination plant plays a crucial role in ensuring a stable water supply for both industrial and domestic use.

There have been discussions about expanding the plant’s capacity or developing additional desalination projects in Namibia to further enhance water security, particularly as climate change and growing demand put more pressure on existing water resources.

Future Media News journalist Angie Scholtz spoke to the Managing Director of the Orano Erongo Desalination plant Tommie Gouws.