Walvis Bay Residents Fume Over Radioactive Facility

PGX Malta plans a different location outside of Walvis Bay for its radioactive storage facility after receiving significant pushback from the community.,PGX Malta plans a different location outside of Walvis Bay for its radioactive storage facility after receiving significant pushback from the community.
Miguel Lloyd
  • 1 Week Ago
In April, PGX Malta, a Namibian-owned oil and gas service provider, announced plans to expand its operations by building a storage facility for radioactive substances. Initially, the company proposed constructing the facility on Rikumbi Kandanga Road at Erf 6230 in Walvis Bay.

The company arranged a meeting at the Walvis Bay Town Hall to provide the public with more information. However, the meeting was not advertised well, and as a direct result, it was poorly attended. According to residents, it became apparent that the speaker was not fully prepared to address the additional questions and concerns of the attendees. "To me, it felt like they weren't ready to answer questions," said Ella Roedolf, a concerned local resident.

Many residents felt that PGX Malta had not thoroughly considered the safety of the town. They feared that if something went wrong, the potential effects on the residents of Walvis Bay could be catastrophic. The community urged the company to choose a different location—preferably one where fewer people are affected in case of an accident. "We don’t object to the facility itself; we object to its location," said Sharon Roodt, Chairlady of the Joint Walvis Bay Residents

Association.

Following the strong objections from the Walvis Bay community, PGX Malta held a similar meeting in Swakopmund, where they encountered an equally negative response. As a result, the company is now considering constructing the storage facility at Farm 38, located further outside Walvis Bay, near the Walvis Bay International Airport.

It is important for our town’s youth to be more informed about meetings and plans like these that could significantly impact our community. Attending community meetings allows their concerns and voices to be heard.