28 Aug 2015

The Selebi Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) is ready to turn the town into an economic hub and a city, said the chief executive officer, Dr Mokubung Mokubung when addressing a council session.

Dr Mokubung said they aimed at coming up with projects that would diversify the economy to promote economic growth in the region and ensure quality and supply of developmental land and a balance between competing land uses and contribution towards sustainable growth.

He said the main projects they were focusing on were the Motloutse farm electrification power line which is funded by the European Union (EU) to support horticulture in the region, Platjaan Bridge in which P100 million had been approved for the project, Pula Steel and airport refurbishment which are all going well. As BCL is working hand in hand with SPEDU to diversify the economy of the region, the divisional manager, BCL corporate strategy, Mr Mark William said their operational costs were high compared to other mines and thus low profits and they were asking for support from the leadership and residents. 

He also said the refurbishment of the smelter has dug deep into the organisation’s coffers but that did not put them out of business as they had taken over Tati Nickel mine from Norilsk and Nkomati in South Africa to utilise the smelter to the fullest and prolong the life of BCL.

 He further said they were working with some company in Dubai to help them turn the by-products into fertilizer and sulphuric acid. 

Another plan, he said included the building of a plant that would manufacture fertilizer, which costs between P5 billion to P10 billion to set up. The smelter refurbishment will be completed in September and it will operate for the next 10 years without being replaced but serviced.  

A coal production circuit is being developed, where coal will be turned into petrol and acid while a demo plant will be built in Phikwe. Ends