WINDHOEK, Feb. 27 -- Swakop Uranium, the developers of the world's second largest uranium mine have assisted a total of 16 Namibian students with bursaries to study in various fields such as Mining Engineering and Chemistry.

The Taurus Minerals majority-owned company, which is developing the multi-billion-dollar Husab mine in Namibia, said on Thursday that 16 Namibia students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds have been recipients of the bursaries since the scheme started in 2011.

For the 2014 academic year, four students including two female students were given all-encompassing bursaries that will cover tuition fees, residency, books, meals and incidental expenses.

Swakop Uranium said the bursaries are designed to ensure that promising Namibians are given the opportunity to obtain an education and not to worry about the financial strains associated with tertiary education.

The company is also sponsoring a Namibian engineering graduate who will soon leave for China to study towards a 30-month Master's degree programme in Drilling Engineering.

Swakop Uranium is also conducting interviews to place at least 10 university graduates in the company to undergo an intensive formal training programme which will provide them the opportunity of planning their future careers.

Swakop Uranium is owned by Taurus Minerals Limited of Hong Kong which has a 90 percent stake in the company, and the Namibian state-owned company Epangelo. Taurus is an entity owned by China General Nuclear Power Company (CGNPC) Uranium Resources Co Ltd and the China-Africa Development Fund.