16 Jun 2014

Boteti councillors have been assured that where there is a genuine claim that a farmer’s borehole has dried up as a result Debswana boreholes, due compensation will be paid to the farmer.

Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) hydrogeology manager, Mr Tefo Rahube said when responding to councillors comments and questions at a sub-council meeting in Letlhakane that even though a consultant that was engaged to carry out environmental impact assessment was hired by Debswana, the report that gave the company a go ahead to continue with the drilling of boreholes was approved by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).


Mr Rahube said DEA will ensure that whatever is done will be in the best interest of the community. He said when briefing Boteti sub district Councillors that the EIA of the ongoing project of drilling boreholes at Well field Seven to alleviate the water shortage experienced by OLDM has been approved by DEA. 


Mr Rahube said before approving the EIA, DEA had ordered Debswana to carry out a baseline assessment audit on the yields of the farmers’ boreholes operating in the project area. 


He said the baseline assessment audit was carried out and the current water level on all boreholes operated by individual farmers in the affected area submitted to DEA prior to commencement of the project.

Mr Rahube said the level of water in those boreholes will be continually assessed to determine whether the yields will be affected. He said the company will also drill boreholes that will be used to monitor the water levels in the location.
He also assured Councillors that the project will not result in relocation of farmers as the infrastructure of the boreholes will take a small portion of grazing land.

Mr Rahube said the Water Apportionment Board compensation procedure will be followed in a case where a project of an entity like Debswana has resulted in drying of a farmer’s borehole.


Mr Rahube further informed the sub council meeting that the EIA report released by DEA was a public document that will be made available to Councillors. He also indicated that the initial cost of developing the well field is at P268 million adding that the company will further incur operational costs.


Mr Rahube said Debswana is a public entity and therefore all information relating to its operations will be availed to the community. He however indicated that could be missing out on some of the information by not following relevant channels. 


He said even though saline water used in processing diamonds the level of salinity must be of a recommended standards. He said using water of high salinity will impact negatively on the plant, as the salt will corrode the metal and as such the company will incur more costs towards continuous servicing of the plant and therefore run at a loss. “We had to strike a balance and insure that the salinity level in the water be enough to process the diamonds while on the other hand bear the lifespan of the plant,” he said. 


Mr Rahube said OLDM slightly above one million cubic meters of water per month. He said setting up a plant that could be used to desalinate water will cost up to P3 billion and run at a cost of about P1 billion per annum and as such will not be profitable. Mr Rahube said the company is also looking at other alternative sources of water. He said it will not be reliable and sustainable to draw water from the dams.


Specially elected Cllr Uyapo Shubani indicated that he was against Debswana competing for water sources with farmers as in the past their projects had resulted in farmers’ boreholes dropping in yields and eventually drying up. Mr Shubani said Debswana as a well-established company has the capacity to draw water from the rivers as far as Chobe.


Cllr Keitsile Motlamma of Mmatshumu said even though diamonds mining is contributing positively to the economy of the country it is unfortunate as communities in Boteti continuously loss agricultural land to the industry. Cllr Motlamma said as such the communities in Boteti are losing hope in a Agriculture which had proven to be a backbone of their livelihoods as there are constantly relocated to pave way for expansion of the Debswana mines.


Cllr Thomas Kgethenyane of Moreomaoto/Khumaga ward said he has been against the project from the onset. Mr Kgethenyane said the EIA report must be availed to Councillors adding that there are not even aware if the project will be carried out in considerate of the environment. ENDS