QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine, the oldest gold-mining operation in Namibia, is embarking on a aggressive underground expansion and deploying first-of-its-kind processing technologies to secure its long-term future amid a broader commodities boom in southwest Africa.
The open-pit mine, located near Karibib in the Erongo Region, is transitioning into a new phase aimed at unlocking millions of ounces of deeper gold reserves. Navachab is positioning itself as a high-margin, low-cost producer at a time when global gold prices have incentivized increased exploration across the continent.
“The mine is one of Namibia’s leading gold producers,” George Botshiwe, Managing Director of Navachab, said in an interview. “Our core business is the extraction and refining of gold, with silver produced as a valuable by-product. We conduct conventional open-pit mining… and underground exploration projects.”
A Tech-Driven Margin Play
While soaring bullion prices have tempted rival miners to absorb higher operational costs, Navachab is targeting an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of roughly $1,000 per ounce. To maintain this buffer, the company has leaned heavily into automated and non-traditional processing infrastructure to boost efficiency while curbing power and water usage.
A decade after becoming the first commercial gold operation to utilize dense medium separation (DMS), the miner has integrated X-ray transmissive sorting, high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGRs), and a Swiss Tower Mill. The combined upgrades have nearly doubled the site’s milling capacity.
“We are very innovative,” Botshiwe said. “We are not scared to try new, innovative things that will increase efficiency, lower operating costs, and improve employee safety, production, and profitability.”
Unlocking Deeper Reserves
The company’s growth strategy heavily relies on its estimated 5 million ounces of in-ground mineral resources. Navachab’s current mine plan accounts for roughly half of that total, prompting the ongoing feasibility studies for deeper extraction.
The company is currently developing two underground portals, mapping out an additional 2 million to 2.5 million ounces of gold. Engineers have already carved out more than 800 meters of decline development, with exploration drilling slated to begin by the end of this year. Navachab expects to finalize the definitive feasibility study by the third quarter of 2027.
To capture immediate upside, the miner is constructing a gravity concentrator scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2026, which is projected to lift gold recovery rates by 5% to 6%.
“This is the most important and exciting project we are working on,” Botshiwe noted regarding the underground shift.
Cultivating a Local Supply Chain
The expansion comes amid a wider natural resources surge in Namibia, driven by renewed exploration in copper, lithium, graphite, and rare earth elements. As the state benefits from an influx of mining capital, Navachab, which employs more than 1,600 people, is attempting to anchor a domestic services ecosystem.
Through its “Golden Egg Project,” the company provides capital and mentorship to local small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs), including funding an SME park in nearby Usakos and incubating local technical contractors from scratch.
With Namibia historically facing gaps in specialized underground mining talent, the company has accelerated recruitment for junior geologists and engineers to manage its upcoming technical shift.
“It is very important for us to empower our employees in terms of training and preparing the next mining leaders in Namibia,” Botshiwe said. “We have recruited a number of young engineers, geologists, and technicians for this purpose and want to assist them in growing to the next level.”
