Editing Tsumeb (section)

== Economy and infrastructure ==
There are 105 [[Commercial farm|commercial farms]] around Tsumeb. The area consists largely of rolling hills covered in thorn bush. Tsumeb falls under the dry woodland, [[savanna]] vegetation zone. Much of farmland is affected by [[woody plant encroachment]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Further Opportunities to deal with Bush Encroachment in Namibia |url=https://africa.fsc.org/en-cd/newsfeed/further-opportunities-to-deal-with-bush-encroachment-in-namibia |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=Forest Stewardship Council |language=en}}</ref> The soil around Tsumeb varies in quality from very fertile red [[loam]] through black turf to chalky clay and loam. The district is thus suitable for intensified farming and crop production. There is an abundance of ground water and regular rainfall in the summer months. Irrigation makes the area even more productive. Farmers in the area grow [[citrus fruits]] with much success. The main crops grown are [[maize]], [[sorghum]] and [[sunflowers]]. [[Cattle farming]] is also widespread.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tsumeb.info/agriculture.htm|title = Ts911 ทางเข้าทีเอส911 – แทงบอล สมัคร Ts911 พร้อมข่าวกีฬา}}</ref>

[[Ohorongo Cement]] was established in 2007. The plant is situated between Tsumeb and [[Otavi]] on Farm Sargberg approximately 45 km south of Tsumeb. The plant has a production capacity of 650000 tonnes per annum, almost double the demand of the Namibian domestic market. It is owned by [[Schwenk KG]]. [[Limestone]] reserves appear to be adequate for approximately 300 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohorongo-cement.com/ |title=Home – Ohorongo Cement (PTY) Ltd |publisher=Ohorongo Cement |date= |accessdate=2022-05-12}}</ref> Tsumeb has a [[concrete sleeper]] factory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11339857-s30.htm|title=Railpage|website=Railpage|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref>

Just a few kilometres North of Tsumeb, the construction of the 40 MW [[Otjikoto Biomass Power Station]] began in 2024, with an expected completion in 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dlamini |first=Matthew |date=2024-06-05 |title=Tsumeb to get biomass power station |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/tsumeb-to-get-biomass-power-station/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=The Namibian |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-29 |title=NamPower Begins Construction on 40 MW Biomass Power Plant |url=https://energycapitalpower.com/nampower-40-mw-biomass-power-plant/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=energycapitalpower.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Every year the Tsumeb Municipality organises the Tsumeb Copper Festival. More than 200 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and bigger exhibitors showcase their products and services at the annual fair. The festival takes place annually during the last weekend of October at the United Nations Park. The four-day event, which is aimed at boosting the economic competitiveness of the town, draws crowds from all corners of the country and beyond.<ref>{{cite web|title={{as written|Minerology}} in Tsumeb {{!}} Kupferquelle Resort|date=17 May 2017|url=https://www.kupferquelle.com/minerology-in-tsumeb/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> It also facilitates indirect investments in the hospitality sector.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tsumeb Copper Festival scheduled for end of October {{!}} Namibia Economist|url=https://economist.com.na/6130/mining-energy/tsumeb-copper-festival-scheduled-for-end-of-october/|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref>

The [[Evaristus Shikongo]] Correctional Facility in Tsumeb is one of Namibia's seven major prisons.<ref>{{Cite news | title=743 convicts in jail for rape | last=Vatileni | first=Eino | newspaper=[[The Namibian]] | date=15 February 2022 | page=1 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/743-convicts-in-jail-for-rape/}}</ref> Tsumeb's stadium, the [[Oscar Norich-Tjahuha|Oscar Norich]] Stadium, has a capacity of 1,500.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Oscar Norich Stadium is falling apart | newspaper=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]] | date=14 March 2016 | url=https://www.newera.com.na/2016/03/14/oscar-norich-stadium-falling/}}</ref>

===Tsumeb mine===
{{see-also|Mining in Namibia}}
[[File:Tsumeb-Main Road.JPG|thumb|left|Main road in Tsumeb]]
[[File:Tsumeb 3.JPG|thumb|left|Tsumeb open cast pit, buildings and railway about 1931]]
[[File:Shaft tower of disused mine in Tsumeb, Namibia (2014).jpg|thumb|left|[[Shaft mining|Shaft tower]] of disused [[Mining|mine]] in Tsumeb (2014)]]

Tsumeb, since its founding, has been primarily a mining town. The mine was originally owned by the [[Otavi Mining and Railway Company|OMEG]] (Otavi Minen- und Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft) and later by TCL (Tsumeb Corporation Limited) before its closure a few years ago, when the ore at depth ran out. The main shafts became flooded by [[Groundwater|ground water]] over a kilometre deep and the water was collected and pumped as far as the capital, [[Windhoek]]. The mine has since been opened up again by a group of local entrepreneurs trading as [[Ongopolo Mining]]. A fair amount of oxidized ore remains to be recovered in the old upper levels of the mine. It is highly unlikely, though, that the deepest levels will ever be reopened.<ref name=mindat/>

Between 1905 and 1996, Tsumeb mine produced about 30 million tons of ore yielding 1.7 Mt copper, 2.8 Mt lead 0.9 Mt zinc, as well as 80 t germanium.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Melcher, F. | year = 2003 | title = The Otavi Mountain Land in Namibia: Tsumeb, germanium and snowball earth. | journal = Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Mineralogischen Gesellschaft | volume =  148 | pages = 413–435}}</ref> The average ore grade was 10% Pb, 4.3% Cu, 3.5% Zn, 100 ppm Ag, 50 ppm Ge.<ref>{{cite journal | author =Lombaard, A.F., Günzel, A., Innes, J., Krüger, T.L.| year = 1986| title = The Tsumeb lead–copper–zinc–silver deposit, South West Africa/Namibia. | journal = Anhaeusser, C.R., Maske, S. (Eds.), Mineral Deposits of Southern Africa, Geol. Soc. South Africa, Johannesburg|  volume = 2| pages = 1761–1782}}</ref>

It is noted for 243 valid minerals and is the type location for 56 types of mineral. Some of the [[germanium]] minerals are only found in this mine.<ref name=mindat>[http://www.mindat.org/loc-2428.html Tsumeb mine mineral list], TL = type location.</ref>

From 1971 to 1972, the Tsumeb mine had its operations temporarily stopped during the [[1971–72 Namibian contract workers strike]] over the contract labor system and [[apartheid]].<ref name="ACOA">{{Cite web |date=January 7, 1972 |title=ACOA fact sheets: STRIKE IN NAMIBIA |url=https://kora.matrix.msu.edu/files/50/304/32-130-1318-84-GMH%20ACOA%201-72Nam%20opt.pdf |publisher=AMERICAN COMMlTTEE ON AFRICA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rogers |first=Barbara |date=1972 |title=Namibia's General Strike |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4185227 |journal=Africa Today |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=3–8 |jstor=4185227 |issn=0001-9887}}</ref>

The other notable feature of the town is the metal smelter, for a long time the biggest employer in town. Previously owned by Namibia Custom Smelters, it was sold by [[Weatherly International]] mining company to [[Dundee Corporation]] in 2010. Dundee mainly smelted copper ores from [[Bulgaria]] here. The right of the smelter is currently owned by [[IXM]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/2760818-dundee-precious-metals-sells-tsumeb-smelter-to-louis-dreyfus-commodities/|title=Dundee Precious Metals sells Tsumeb smelter to Louis Dreyfus Commodities|date=14 January 2010|access-date=17 December 2018|publisher=guelphmercury.com}}</ref> 

The smelter operation has led to widespread soil contamination with [[arsenic]] and other [[heavy metals]]. Hair samples from the local population show "that the population of Tsumeb is massively exposed to arsenic". It also impacted air quality negatively. The stockpile of arsenic waste has been deposited in a landfill. Its exact size is unknown but it is speculated to amount to 300,000t, one of the largest such accumulations in the world.<ref>{{Cite news | last1=Schlaefli | first1=Samuel | last2=York | first2=Geoffrey | title=Canadian copper company leaves a legacy of toxic waste in Namibia | newspaper=[[The Namibian]] | date=20 January 2025 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/canadian-copper-company-leaves-a-legacy-of-toxic-waste-in-namibia/}}</ref>

===Transport===
[[File:Tsumeb Railway.JPG|thumb|[[Otavi Mining and Railway Company]] train near Tsumeb about 1931.  The photograph must have been taken in winter, as the trees have no leaves. Despite the fact that Tsumeb is in the tropics, it is well over a thousand metres [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]] and frosty in winter.]]

The main road leads north, to [[Ondangwa]] and onwards to [[Oshakati]] and [[Angola]]. To the north-east a newly constructed Bituminous Road towards [[Tsintsabis]] leads to Katwitwi Border Post and [[Angola]].  To the east, through [[Grootfontein]], the road leads towards  [[Rundu]] and [[Katima Mulilo]] and to the south, through [[Otavi]] to [[Otjiwarongo]] and [[Windhoek]].

Tsumeb is connected to the national railway network operated by [[TransNamib]].  Tsumeb was for most of the 20th century the terminus of the line but in recent times the track has been extended a further 260 km to reach [[Ondangwa]].  There have been talks of extending the line to [[Oshikango]] and having the Government of Angola build a railroad from the north to connect the two countries together. The junction for the [[Ondangwa]] line is located at the "wrong end" of [[Tsumeb railway station]], leaving it a dead end, though a second triangle is provided for through trains to bypass the station.

[[Tsumeb Airport]] is an airstrip east of town.