Application for Environmental Impact Assessment Submitted

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR) has announced plans for Phase Two of the proposed Neckertal Irrigation Project in the Kharas region.

An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) will be conducted as part of the permitting process. This announcement is made in accordance with the Environmental Management Act No. 7 of 2007 and Article 21 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (January 2012). An application for an Environmental Certificate of Conformity (ECC) must be submitted to the Environmental Officer of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT).

The project is planned for undeveloped, state-owned agricultural land around the Neckar Valley Dam in the Schlangkopf area and encompasses a planned area of approximately 19,000 hectares. The areas designated for agricultural development include, among others, Part 1 of the Tschaunap farm No. 75; Dagbreek farm No. 420; the remainder of Part 2 of the Schlangkopf farm No. 124; Part 4 (a portion of Part 1) of the Eppenau farm No. 123; and Parts 2 and 3 of the Schaapplaatz farm No. 414.

Tortoise Environmental Consultants was commissioned as independent environmental consultants and Sustainable Development Africa as independent socio-economic consultants to conduct the study. All interested and affected parties are invited to register using the contact details provided and to attend the public hearing on June 23, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the W.K. Rover Community Hall in Tseiblaagte, Keetmanshoop. A Background Information Document (BID) is also available electronically upon request. For further information or to register as an interested and affected party, please contact Jeany Auala at +264 81 286 8868 or by email at jeany@susdaf.com.