Bannerman Energy : announced as finalist in AAMEG’s Africa Awards

Namibia has a small population, a very large, arid land area and a small, concentrated economy. Mining (predominantly uranium and diamonds) and Tourism are equally important to Namibia's economy.

However, in 2008 the Mining and Tourism sectors were at loggerheads in the Erongo region, after years of mutual suspicion between tourism operators and uranium mining companies.

Tourism felt threatened by Mining: Namibia is branded on its international appeal as an untouched natural wonderland. Namibia boasts the best wildlife conservation record in the world, has grown several of the continent's most successful conservation bodies and declared a National Park over its entire 1,570km coastline.

The uranium mining sector also felt threated by Tourism, with the potential for opponents to negatively influence the sophisticated, educated and German-influenced middle class in Swakopmund. Further, there was a perceived concern that tourism operators could generate opposition to uranium mining amongst their international guests, who might collaborate with international pressure groups.

Against this hostile background, Bannerman leadership worked consistently over several years to engage with and build trust amongst both individual tourism operators and their industry representatives.

Bannerman's initial engagement in 2008 was led by NED David Tucker as part of Bannerman's environmental and social baseline assessment. In 2009, Brandon Munro (then GM Corporate Development) moved to Namibia to oversee the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and to design and implement Bannerman's Community Development Plan, under David's guidance.

Bannerman formalised its engagement, presenting at Coastal Tourism Association of Namibia's (CTAN) 2009 Annual General Meeting and being accepted to sponsor the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) 2010 Annual Gala, with Brandon Munro providing an address calling for co-operation and de-escalation. The substantial progress was demonstrated by glowing testimonials from the Chairs of CTAN and HAN.

In 2010, Bannerman employed Swakopmund local Werner Ewald (now Managing Director, Namibia). Werner brought to the partnership a passion for Namibia, Swakopmund and Etango - and a deep respect from the local community. Under Werner's leadership, Bannerman's partnership with HAN and sponsorship of various tourism industry initiatives has continued every year from 2011-2022.

The trust and acceptance of the coastal and national tourism sector culminated in their support for the Etango Environmental and Social Management Plan. This led to Etango obtaining in 2012 an Environmental Clearance for its 6km long open pit uranium mine located within the Namib Naukluft National Park and close to one of Namibia's best known tourist attractions. This achievement (and the subsequent extensions of that Clearance) is the product of 14 years of sensitive and transparent community engagement.