22 Feb 2013

Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources’ strategy towards mineral diversification under NDP 10 includes promotion of citizen participation, exploration and evaluation of small scale industrial mineral resources to bankable feasibility study and packaged for mining by the citizens.

Answering a question in Parliament on behalf of the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi said the strategy also included, amongst others, a competitive process of awarding prospecting licences for coal deposits, which commenced in 2012.

Parliament heard that the ministry’s strategy towards mineral diversification entailed promotion of local beneficiation and value addition facilitated by the diamond hub and the Coal Development Unit.

Minister Masisi explained that the extent to which Shoshong constituency would benefit from mineral beneficiation would depend on the discovery of economically viable mineral deposits in the constituency which could be mined and beneficiated.

He also stated that the diversification of the economy through minerals outside the traditional pool of minerals (diamonds, coal, copper and Nickel) included mining of soda ash and salt, construction aggregates, gold, limestone for cement manufacturing and clay for face bricks and pottery.

MP for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele had asked about progress made in the diversification of the economy through minerals outside the traditional pool of minerals given the country’s resource comparative advantages in that area.

He had also wanted to know the extent to which the minister had packaged the initiative in NDP 10 or his thoughts for NDP 10 review, stating those specific minerals which he was targeting for diversification.

Mr Makgalemele had also asked the extent to which such beneficiation was likely to benefit mining in the Shoshong. ENDS