Arandis, Namibia

Arandis
Arandis

Location in Namibia

Coordinates: 22°25′S 14°58′E / 22.417°S 14.967°E
Country  Namibia
Region Erongo Region
Constituency Arandis Constituency
Established 1978
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 5,214
Climate BWh

Arandis, Namibia is a town in Erongo Region, Namibia. It has been called the Uranium Capital of the World as it is located just 15 km outside the world's largest open-pit uranium mine, the Rössing Uranium Mine.

Established for the workers of Rössing Uranium in 1978, Arandis was granted self–administration and "town" status in 1994.[2] Currently it has 7,600 inhabitants, most of whom are somehow connected to the mine, and owns 29 square kilometres (11 sq mi) of land.[3]

It is the home of the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology, a technical institute focusing on training skilled industrial workers.

2000s development

The 2000s saw a resurgence in economic growth in Arandis. With the global energy crisis, a significant rise in demand occurred for nuclear energy, increasing demand for Arandis' Uranium. Banks, which had previously closed and youth who had previously left the town seeking employment elsewhere, returned.[4] In 2008, negotiations were at an advanced stage for a Chinese company, Namibia Industrial Mining (NIM) Limited to build a factory for making building materials in Arandis.[5]

After an investment conference was held in 2011, investors have decided to erect a shopping mall in town. Construction of the mall started soon afterwards, the anticipated completion date is May 2013.[6]

Transportation

Arandis Railway Station is a crossing loop on the Trans-Namib Railway between Swakopmund and Usakos. Arandis Airport is also nearby.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Table 4.2.2 Urban population by Census years (2001 and 2011)". Namibia 2011 - Population and Housing Census Main Report. Namibia Statistics Agency. p. 39. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  2. ↑ Hartman, Adam (8 November 2011). "Investment conference promotes Arandis". The Namibian.
  3. ↑ "ELECTIONS 2010: Erongo regional profile". New Era. 16 November 2010.
  4. ↑ Rising Interest in Nuclear Power Brings New Life to Uranium Mining Washington Post, 6 December 2006
  5. ↑ Chinese firm plans Arandis factory The Namibian, 23 July 2008
  6. ↑ de Klerk, Eveline (21 August 2012). "Arandis mall takes shape". New Era.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arandis.

Coordinates: 22°25′00″S 14°58′00″E / 22.41667°S 14.96667°E