The number of people employed in the mining sector in Namibia grew in 2010, as the industry increased its workforce by around 12 per cent.

According to statistics revealed by a new review of the Chamber of Mines, reported by the Namibian, a total of 6,897 people were employed in this area at the end of last year.

While the numbers are an improvement on those recorded in 2009, the industry is still some way short of its 1990 peak, when 13,605 people were employed in the country's mines.

The single biggest employer was Namdeb, which provided jobs for 1,651 individuals, followed by Rossing, which had 1,592 miners working for it.

Other major employers in the industry included De Beers Marine, Skorpion Zinc and Rosh Pinah.

Major commodities obtained in Namibia, which are then exported around the world, include uranium and diamonds.

Its mines also produce metals including zinc, copper, lead and gold.

Posted by Lee Thrace