Namibian mine reaps what it sows — in maize

A gold mine in northern Namibia is putting its money where hungry mouths are, contributing to the country’s food security.

Five years after the first gold was poured in 2014, the Canadian-owned B2Gold Otjikoto mine discovered the land was also suitable for agriculture. It began planting in 2019, naming it the Erhardtshof Agricultural Project after the original farm. This year, it is expected to have a harvest of close to 2,000t of white maize.

Namibia’s imports of maize during the 2024/2025 season are expected to reach 340,000t, primarily white maize for human consumption and yellow for stock feed. Severe drought has driven the imports, which have cost Namibia about N$564.7m, with South Africa supplying about 61.1% of cereal grains, including maize.

Construction on the open-pit and underground mine began in 2013. When it discovered that gold was not the only wealth in the ground, it hired Zimbabwean farmer Jeremy Ford as an agronomic consultant, who had moved to Namibia because of land uncertainty in his homeland.

“He found the soil excellent for growing maize, with access to a strong aquifer — and the rest is history,” says the mine’s country manager and director, John Roos.

The mine is located in the central Otjozondjupa region, close to the Etosha Pan and near the towns of Otavi, Tsumeb and Grootfontein. Since the first gold was poured, the mine has contributed significantly to the Namibian economy, having produced nearly 1.8-million ounces of gold and paid N$6.5bn in corporate income tax, royalties and export levy payments by the end of 2024.

“The Otjikoto mine is now focusing on underground mining and low-grade stockpile processing, while continuing to invest in sustainable initiatives through its corporate social responsibility efforts,” Roos says.

The farming project began with two 15ha pivot irrigation systems that have grown to 180ha under irrigation, making it one of the largest private sector irrigation farms in Namibia.

The farm provides jobs, fosters agribusiness skills, and supports sustainable agriculture in the region

—  John Roos

“All the produce from the farm is processed by Namib Mills at Otavi, enhancing local food systems and decreasing national reliance on imported grains. Additionally, the farm provides jobs, fosters agribusiness skills, and supports sustainable agriculture in the region,” says Roos.

B2Gold is also establishing other nonmining assets for when the mine closes. These include a 7MW solar plant and a nature reserve. It expects these will continue to operate after mining has ended and be run by a local trustee to ensure profits are invested in local communities.

“In this context, the Erhardtshof initiative is part of a sustainability effort aimed at creating an agronomic hub,” says Roos.

Ford says the aquifer will help in a fluctuating climate, consistently producing high-yielding, high-quality crops.

“The challenges include erratic power supply, the cost of production, and staff training,” says Ford. “The indicators of success are farm workers taking ownership of their responsibilities, improving soil fertility, and increasing yearly yields.”

B2Gold began its first venture in Africa by acquiring the Otjikoto gold project through a merger with Auryx Gold Corp in December 2011.

The company received its mining licence in December 2012, started construction in April 2013, and 18 months later achieved its first gold pour — ahead of schedule and below budget, says Roos.

B2Gold Corp, based in Vancouver, holds a 90% stake in the Otjikoto mine. EVI Mining Company Ltd, a Namibian broad-based economic empowerment group, owns 10% in B2Gold Namibia. 

B2Gold operates gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines, while the Goose Project is being developed in Nunavut, northern Canada. It’s part of the Back River gold district and is on track for first gold production in the second quarter of this year. 

Roos says B2Gold Namibia contributed N$2.5bn to the national government through various direct tax payments in 2025 alone, including N$1.9bn in corporate income tax, N$128m in nonresident shareholder tax, N$255.4m in royalties, and N$85.3m in export levies.

“Notably, the Namibian government’s share of profit before tax from direct taxes reached 57% in 2024. The company also sustains a 99% local employment rate and invested N$3.1bn in goods and services, 63% of which were sourced locally,” Roos says.