Russia's controversial uranium mining plan threatens southern Africa's vital aquifer
Daily Maverick | 18.05.2026 03:39
Stretching across three countries, the Stampriet Artesian Basin is one of the largest aquifers in southern Africa and the only permanent source of drinking water and farm irrigation in one of the driest parts of the sub-continent. This is an area characterised by several dry river beds that only flow briefly during heavy rainstorms. Underground water is the lifeblood of the region, with water extracted from more than 7,000 boreholes to sustain people, animals and crops.
