Vedanta to restart Skorpion Zinc acid plant within next 6 months
Vedanta Zinc International has announced plans to bring the sulphuric acid plant at the Skorpion Zinc Mine and Refinery back into production, with recommissioning scheduled for completion within the next four to six months.
The announcement marks the first significant development at Skorpion since the mine was placed on care and maintenance in 2020.
The sulphuric acid plant, originally constructed in the early 2000s, is an integral part of Skorpion’s zinc refinery complex located near Rosh Pinah in southern Namibia. Its role is to capture sulphur dioxide gases released during the roasting of zinc ore and convert them into sulphuric acid.
By restarting the plant, Vedanta will not only reduce harmful emissions but also produce a high-value industrial product that has significant demand in Namibia and across the region.
Once operational, the refurbished facility is expected to produce approximately 1 000 tonnes of sulphuric acid per day at a concentration of 98%, making it suitable for a wide range of industrial and metallurgical applications.
This scale of production will re-establish Skorpion as an essential supplier of acid to Namibian industries and to regional markets.
Environmental and economic benefits
Vedanta is framing the recommissioning of the plant as both an environmental and economic initiative.
By capturing sulphur dioxide emissions and converting it into a usable product, the company will minimise atmospheric pollution and support Namibia’s broader ecological commitments.
At the same time, the production of sulphuric acid will generate revenues and potentially create employment opportunities for skilled workers during the refurbishment and operational phases.
Vedanta noted that it has already issued a call for Expressions of Interest from companies interested in long-term off-take agreements.
These agreements will cover both the supply of sulphuric acid and the logistics arrangements required to move product from the Skorpion site to customers.
Deliveries will be made on an ex-works basis, which places responsibility for transport and distribution on the buyer once the product leaves the plant.
“The initiative reflects our commitment to building strategic partnerships that create sustainable value. We invite companies with the required technical and logistical capabilities to submit their interest in entering into a long-term off-take agreement for the supply of sulphuric acid,” Vedanta Zinc International said in a statement.
Strategic role of sulphuric acid
Sulphuric acid is one of the world’s most widely used industrial chemicals.
In Namibia, it plays a critical role in mineral processing, especially in uranium mining, where it is used in heap leaching to extract uranium oxide from ore.
The country’s fertiliser producers also rely on sulphuric acid as a feedstock in the manufacture of phosphate fertilisers.
At the same time, other industries use it in metal treatment, water purification and chemical production.
Namibia currently imports most of its sulphuric acid requirements, and the restart of Skorpion’s plant is therefore likely to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen the resilience of local supply chains.
It could also create opportunities for export to neighbouring countries, including South Africa and Botswana, where acid demand continues to rise.
Vedanta’s footprint in Namibia
Vedanta Zinc International, a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited with a market capitalisation of around US$30 billion (about N$550 billion), manages a portfolio of zinc assets in southern Africa.
These include producing mines in South Africa’s Northern Cape as well as the Skorpion operation in Namibia, which has remained dormant since open-pit reserves were depleted and technical challenges emerged in processing zinc-oxide ore.
Although full-scale mining at Skorpion has not resumed, Vedanta has sought to maintain its presence in Namibia through strategic investments and infrastructure management.
The decision to restart the acid plant is seen as part of a broader effort to keep the site active while the company evaluates long-term options for zinc mining and refining in the country.
A renewed signal
Industry observers say the recommissioning of the Skorpion acid plant sends a strong signal of Vedanta’s continued interest in Namibia’s mining and industrial landscape.
It may also provide a platform for future partnerships, particularly as the country looks to expand its industrial base and add value to mineral resources before export.
If successful, the project will not only revive a dormant piece of infrastructure but also reintroduce a steady domestic source of a chemical that underpins Namibia’s mining and agricultural industries.
In the process, Vedanta aims to reinforce its credentials as both a responsible operator and a partner in Namibia’s economic development.
The announcement marks the first significant development at Skorpion since the mine was placed on care and maintenance in 2020.
The sulphuric acid plant, originally constructed in the early 2000s, is an integral part of Skorpion’s zinc refinery complex located near Rosh Pinah in southern Namibia. Its role is to capture sulphur dioxide gases released during the roasting of zinc ore and convert them into sulphuric acid.
By restarting the plant, Vedanta will not only reduce harmful emissions but also produce a high-value industrial product that has significant demand in Namibia and across the region.
Once operational, the refurbished facility is expected to produce approximately 1 000 tonnes of sulphuric acid per day at a concentration of 98%, making it suitable for a wide range of industrial and metallurgical applications.
This scale of production will re-establish Skorpion as an essential supplier of acid to Namibian industries and to regional markets.
Environmental and economic benefits
Vedanta is framing the recommissioning of the plant as both an environmental and economic initiative.
By capturing sulphur dioxide emissions and converting it into a usable product, the company will minimise atmospheric pollution and support Namibia’s broader ecological commitments.
At the same time, the production of sulphuric acid will generate revenues and potentially create employment opportunities for skilled workers during the refurbishment and operational phases.
Vedanta noted that it has already issued a call for Expressions of Interest from companies interested in long-term off-take agreements.
These agreements will cover both the supply of sulphuric acid and the logistics arrangements required to move product from the Skorpion site to customers.
Deliveries will be made on an ex-works basis, which places responsibility for transport and distribution on the buyer once the product leaves the plant.
“The initiative reflects our commitment to building strategic partnerships that create sustainable value. We invite companies with the required technical and logistical capabilities to submit their interest in entering into a long-term off-take agreement for the supply of sulphuric acid,” Vedanta Zinc International said in a statement.
Strategic role of sulphuric acid
Sulphuric acid is one of the world’s most widely used industrial chemicals.
In Namibia, it plays a critical role in mineral processing, especially in uranium mining, where it is used in heap leaching to extract uranium oxide from ore.
The country’s fertiliser producers also rely on sulphuric acid as a feedstock in the manufacture of phosphate fertilisers.
At the same time, other industries use it in metal treatment, water purification and chemical production.
Namibia currently imports most of its sulphuric acid requirements, and the restart of Skorpion’s plant is therefore likely to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen the resilience of local supply chains.
It could also create opportunities for export to neighbouring countries, including South Africa and Botswana, where acid demand continues to rise.
Vedanta’s footprint in Namibia
Vedanta Zinc International, a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited with a market capitalisation of around US$30 billion (about N$550 billion), manages a portfolio of zinc assets in southern Africa.
These include producing mines in South Africa’s Northern Cape as well as the Skorpion operation in Namibia, which has remained dormant since open-pit reserves were depleted and technical challenges emerged in processing zinc-oxide ore.
Although full-scale mining at Skorpion has not resumed, Vedanta has sought to maintain its presence in Namibia through strategic investments and infrastructure management.
The decision to restart the acid plant is seen as part of a broader effort to keep the site active while the company evaluates long-term options for zinc mining and refining in the country.
A renewed signal
Industry observers say the recommissioning of the Skorpion acid plant sends a strong signal of Vedanta’s continued interest in Namibia’s mining and industrial landscape.
It may also provide a platform for future partnerships, particularly as the country looks to expand its industrial base and add value to mineral resources before export.
If successful, the project will not only revive a dormant piece of infrastructure but also reintroduce a steady domestic source of a chemical that underpins Namibia’s mining and agricultural industries.
In the process, Vedanta aims to reinforce its credentials as both a responsible operator and a partner in Namibia’s economic development.
