09 Sep 2014

The expansion of the Letlhakane abattoir, funded through Lundin Foundation at a cost of P7 million, will ensure that the facility continuously meets all national health, quality, and safety standards.

The chief executive officer of LUCARA Diamonds, Mr William Lamb said during the ground breaking ceremony to mark the expansion of the abattoir on September 8 that the project would enable a threefold increase in daily throughput of cattle and goats.

Lundin is a private foundation working with LUCARA Diamonds to make investments, projects and grants, creating sustainable real benefits for communities it is operating in. 

LUCARA Diamonds the mother company to Boteti Mining (Pty) Ltd, which owns Karowe Diamond mine.

Mr Lamb stated that the decision to make the investment, which is a partnership among Karowe Diamond mine, Boteti Sub-district Council, and Lundin Foundation, was made after a detailed assessment of the region’s underlying sources of economic competitiveness.

He said the expectation was that the sub-district would enjoy four benefit streams such as increased direct employment at the new facility, increased indirect employment due to expanded throughput, improved availability and pricing of meat locally, as well as increased incomes and food security of rural livestock owners.

The construction is expected to commence in October and will be completed in April next year; every effort has been made to ensure that there is minimal disruption to current activities during the construction period, he assured. Karowe Mine will also be augmenting government measures to ensure that benefits from the upgraded facility were shared widely, through the provision of mobile veterinary services aimed at improving animal health, he said, urging farmers to make use of the services. 

Kgosi Barontshi Kegapetse of Letlhakane appreciated the efforts made by Karowe Mine since its inception in the Boteti sub-district. ENDS