Puuahee說，“駕駛這個漂亮的傢伙是種愉快的體驗，你知道我們以前從來不敢想象這事能在這裡發生。”
Puuahee表示，她踏入採礦行業主要是因為這裡有更多的機會，也將幫助自己快速成長。在這一信念支持下，她從海邊城市斯瓦科普蒙德搬到了湖山鈾礦附近的內陸城市阿蘭迪斯，並在2013年湖山鈾礦開始建設時加入了求職者大軍。
“現在斯科公司（全稱：中廣核鈾業斯科有限公司）為當地人提供了大量的就業機會，我認為，它改變了很多人的生活，尤其是年輕人！” Puuahee說。
湖山鈾礦是世界上最大的鈾礦之一，到2017年底時這裡的長期僱員已經有1620人，此外還有176名臨時僱員與522名承包商。
根據納米比亞礦業協會主席Veston Malango介紹，湖山鈾礦已經成為該國採礦行業中最大的就業崗位提供者。
斯科公司CEO蔡於勝表示，湖山鈾礦建設高峰時期有超過5000名工人在現場工作。
湖山鈾礦的建設和運營為緩解這個南部非洲國家的就業壓力做出了重要貢獻。在2016年，納米比亞的失業率曾高達34%。
對湖山鈾礦的眾多讚譽之中，納米比亞總統哥根布在2016年3月視察湖山鈾礦時曾讚揚：“你們帶來的巨大投資令我印象深刻。這確實是非常好的投資，它馴服了高山為沙漠帶來了文明。納米比亞為擁有你們這樣的夥伴而自豪。”
湖山鈾礦在2016年12月生產出了第一桶鈾。蔡於勝介紹，如果湖山鈾礦達產每年將加工1500萬噸礦石，併產出6500噸鈾308。
另外，湖山鈾礦有望為納米比亞每年的GDP增長貢獻5個百分點，並使出口總量增長20%。納米比亞將成為世界第三大鈾生產國。作為價值48億美元的項目，湖山鈾礦是中國在非洲最大單體實體投資項目，歷時4年才完成建設。
2018-05-15，Xinhuanet首發，原文標題《Feature: Chinese-operated mine becomes big employer in Namibia》。
原文：SWAKOPMUND, Namibia, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Kerryb Puuahee, 31, is proud of breaking new ground in the male-dominated mine industry by becoming a female heavy equipment operator at a Namibian mine.
The young mother is a 330-ton haul truck operator at Husab Uranium Mine, one of China's biggest single investments in Africa. Her job entails loading ore from the pit onto the processing workshop.
"Driving this beautiful thing here is a lovely experience, which you know is something we never imagined one could do here," Puuahee said.
Puuahee said she joined the mining industry mainly because it presents more opportunities and allows one to grow quickly. Driven by this belief, she moved inland from the coastal town of Swakopmund to Arandis, which is near Husab mine, and joined the legion of job seekers when Husab mine began construction in 2013.
"Now Swakop Uranium (the company that owns Husab Uranium Mine) provides employment for a lot of people, so I think it's also a life changer for many people, especially the youth," Puuahee said.
The Husab mine is one of the biggest uranium mines in the world. Permanent employees at the mine were numbered at 1,620 by the end of 2017, in addition to 176 temporary employees and 522 contractors.
Husab became the largest employer in the country's mining industry in 2017, according to the Chamber of Mines CEO Veston Malango.
Cai Yusheng, CEO of Swakop Uranium, said more than 5,000 workers were at the construction site at peak time.
The mine's construction and operation have been credited for alleviating the employment pressure in the southern African nation, where unemployment rate reached 34 percent in 2016.
Among the praises it received was that from Namibian President Hage Geingob.
"You have impressed me with your huge investment. This is indeed a good investment. Taming the mountains and civilizing the desert. Namibia is proud to have you as our partner!" Geingob said this when visiting the mine in March 2016.
Husab mine produced its first uranium drum in December 2016. Cai said if full production is realized, the mine will process 15 million tons of ore, and has an output capacity of 6,500 tons of U3O8 a year.
Husab mine is also expected to promote Namibia's GDP growth by about 5 percent and increase the country's export volume by about 20 percent, making Namibia the third largest producer of uranium in the world, according to Cai.
The 4.8-billion-U.S.-dollar project in the Namib Desert is one of China's biggest single investments in Africa, which took four years to finish construction.
Many expectations have now been attached to the mine. Geingob, who visited the mine several times, also invited Zambian President Edgar Lungu and Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita there.
Lungu left a message on the scene praising the investment as "an expression of the Chinese people's commitment to Africa," while Keita was equally excited. "Long live the cooperation between the great Namibia and great China! Long live China-Africa cooperation!" said his message.
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