WINDHOEK, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- In the vast Namib Desert, the machinery of the Husab Mine operates around the clock, extracting uranium from one of the world's largest deposits.
Yet beyond the steady industrial rhythm, a quieter transformation is unfolding, reshaping skills, livelihoods, and aspirations in the surrounding communities.
At the heart of this change is a growing recognition among local employees and residents that modern mining, when aligned with long-term development goals, can serve as more than a source of raw materials.
For Irvinne Simataa, executive vice president at Swakop Uranium, the operator of the Husab Mine, the site represents a microcosm of Namibia's broader development path, where resource extraction must go hand in hand with industrial upgrading and human capital formation.
"In Namibia, mining is a pillar industry," Simataa said. "It involves not only sustainable development but also industrial upgrading and economic growth."
One of the most persistent challenges facing Namibia's mining sector has been the shortage of high-level technical expertise. Addressing this gap has required more than conventional training; it has demanded a shift in mindset, one shaped in part by management philosophies drawn from China's industrial experience.
The Husab Mine, a China General Nuclear Power Group-affiliated operation, has adapted management and training approaches developed over decades of large-scale industrial practice in China to Namibia's local context.
Simataa recalled how exposure to China's development model influenced his approach to workforce development at the Husab Mine. "I found that meritocracy drove the country's rapid development. I brought this concept back to Husab Mine," he said.
That approach has gradually taken root.
Over the past three years, 70 young Namibian engineers have been recruited and immersed in structured training and mentorship programs. Through continuous assessment and hands-on responsibility, many have transitioned into permanent technical roles, forming a new generation of locally trained professionals who now underpin daily operations at the mine.
Under the guiding idea of "More than Mining," efforts around the Husab Mine increasingly prioritize sustainable livelihoods rather than short-term assistance.
One such initiative is the Hope Farm project, which in 2025 provided 1,000 goats to farmers in nearby communities. It targets rural households, seeking to build small-scale livestock enterprises as a pathway out of poverty.
Simataa recalled a moment that crystallized the broader meaning of the project. "At that moment, I felt that we were not just working; we were changing our hometown. Just as the company's brand concept says, we are not only mining, but going beyond mining."
Among the beneficiaries is Lena Gauses from the Erongo Region. Standing among her newly acquired goats and sheep, the 45-year-old described the project as an opportunity to reconnect with her roots.
"Nowadays, the youth are not interested in farming, so I want to encourage them just to be part of it. The reason why we are doing this is that we are creating for our self-employment," she told Xinhua.
Namibia's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Inge Zaamwani praised the Hope Farm initiative for aligning community development with broader economic objectives.
"I must commend the project launched by the Swakop Uranium Foundation because it follows strong principles; livestock is given to selected farmers not as a handout, but as a tool for building income and creating independence," she said.
From young engineers applying newly acquired expertise inside the processing plant to farmers expanding their herds across arid landscapes, those connected to the Husab Mine are redefining what resource-based cooperation can achieve. ■
