"Namibia Mining Report Q3 2010" is now available at Fast Market Research

July 8, 2010 - PRLog -- Mining Sector To Power Ahead

The IMF released an upbeat assessment of Namibia's economic prospects in late May 2010, with the Fund believing that the mining sector will play a key role in leading the country's growth. The IMF believes that Namibia may be able to grow by 4.4% in 2010, according to local media reports, boosted by a rebound in mining production. This compares to the economic contraction of 0.8% seen in 2009, when diamond production fell by nearly 60%.

Over the coming years, BMI foresees uranium playing an ever more important role within the Namibian mining sector, becoming more valuable to the country than diamonds. Indeed, already in 2009, uranium sales (of NAD4bn) outstripped diamond sales (of NAD3.8bn) for the first time. Although diamond output should regain traction in 2010, uranium output will also receive a significant boost from the four mines currently scheduled to come onstream between now and 2015.

Over the 2010-2015 period, Forsys Metal Corps is expected to open its Valencia project, while Areva SA is expected to begin operations at its Trekkopje mine, Extract Resources is expected to start mining at the Rossing South mine and Bannerman Resources is anticipated to begin extraction at its Etango and Swakop River mine.

New Data

For 2010, BMI has made significant changes to the way in which we forecast mining data. As well as using local statistics agencies and associations, we now also draw on the expertise of the UN's Industrial Commodity Statistics Database, the US Geological Survey and the World Bureau of Metal Statistics for our historical export and production data. We then forecast this data using our own proprietary econometric model. Human intervention also plays a necessary and desirable role in our mining forecasting; experience, expertise and knowledge of industry trends and developments ensuring that we can spot likely future changes and anomalous data that a purely mechanical model would not.

Country Overview

Namibia is richly endowed with natural resources; in particular uranium and diamond deposits. The country is the world's fourth-largest producer of uranium and among the largest gem-quality diamond producers in value terms. It also features among the top five nations around the globe for its zinc, copper and lead reserves. To expand the revenue earning potential of its mining industry, the Namibian government is making a concerted effort to establish a strong domestic market for diamond cutting and polishing. Taken together, these factors underscore the importance of the Namibian mining industry for its economy.

Industry Forecast

After a very challenging 2009, when the industry shrank significantly, there are reasons for cautious optimism in the Namibian mining sector as we enter 2010. Demand for diamonds should pick up over the course of the year and the country's burgeoning uranium sector should continue to grow strongly. We also now feel that the outlook for the key copper sector is better than it was in 2009, as key producer Weatherly International looks to restart production at its Namibian properties.

For more information or to purchase this report, go to:
-  http://www.fastmr.com/prod/71687_namibia_mining_report_q3...

Report Table of Contents:

Executive Summary
SWOT Analysis
- Namibia Political SWOT
- Namibia Economic SWOT
- Namibia Business Environment SWOT
Global Mining Outlook
- Table: Rio Tinto's Capital And Major Evaluation Projects For 2010
- BMI Views
- Risks To Outlook
Industry Trends And Developments
- Overview
- Regulatory Structure And Developments
Key Projects
- Metals
- Copper
- Lead, Zinc And Silver
- Uranium
- Minerals
- Diamonds
Business Environment
- Africa Mining Overview
- Africa Mining Business Environment Ratings
- Table: Africa Mining Business Environment Ratings
- Namibia's Mining Business Environment Ratings
Political Environment
- Long-Term Political Outlook
Industry Forecast Scenario
- Commodities Forecast - Nickel To Average US$22,000/tonne In 2010
- Table: BMI Nickel Forecast
- Table: Nickel
- Aluminium Update: Downside Risks To Average Price of US$2,100/tonne In 2010
- Table: BMI Aluminium Forecast
- Table: Aluminium
- Commodities Forecast - Gold To Average US$1,150/oz In 2010
- Table: BMI Gold Forecast
- Table: Gold
- Commodities Forecast - Copper
- Table: BMI Copper Forecast
- Table: Copper
- Namibia's Mining Industry Forecast
- Table: Namibia Mining Industry Data and Forecast, 2007-2014
Competitive Landscape
- Table: Key Players In Namibia's Mining Industry
Company Monitor
- Diamond Fields International
- Namdeb Diamond Corporation (Namdeb)
- Rossing Uranium
Global Assumptions Q310
- Table: Global & Regional Real GDP Growth
- Table: Global Assumptions
- Table: Developed States, Real GDP Growth Forecast
- Table: Emerging Markets Aggregate Growth
Business Environment Ratings Methodology
- Table: Mining Business Environment Indicators
- Table: Weighting Of Components

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