08 Sep 2015

Recruitment at Khoemacau Copper Mine would be based on the mine’s needs. In an interview recently, the mine official, Mr Hebert Kebafetotse, said they had managers in different areas but recruitment for various posts had not yet started.

The mine had been engaging residents as casual labourers. 

Mr Kebafetotse said about 50 labourers were from Somelo village where the mine was situated. Khoemacau is expected to be in full production by 2018, following a decision to have an expanded mine and it the company could need more than 700 employees.

Mr Kebafetotse also indicated that the mine would commence construction on July 2016. 

He said initially their plans were to commence this year but with the coming on board of  Boseto mine, they had to change their plans to incorporate the new mine. He said the plan was to get ore at Somelo and transport it to Boseto plant in Toteng for processing purposes. 

Recently, Khoemacau bought Boseto after the mine was shut down early this year after going through provision liquidation.

Mr Kebafetotse also noted that the upgrading of Boseto plant was ongoing and the aim was to processes 10 000 ore material per day instead of the current 8 000. 

“We want capacity to process more material per day and a few modifications would be done because ore from Zone 5 is of high grade and not similar to what Boseto was processing,” he added. 

The Khoemacau mine could produce 3.6 million tonnes of copper per annum over the next 20 years. 

Mr Kebafetotse said the drilling at Somelo base was complete and a study of feasibility on combined operatives was done. Regarding the issue of payment of farmers whom the mine bought their farms, he said the compensation process was completed. 

He also indicated that there was a plan to ensure water supply from Makgalo settlement, 35 km from the site to supplement the mine. 

He said initially they proposed to take water from Samedupi but realised it was costly and they constructed a pipeline from Makgalo.

Meanwhile, as their corporate social responsibility, Mr Kebafetotse said the mine was in the process of developing a social action plan that would contribute meaningfully to the communities. He said the plan would look at future activities such as social-economic development initiatives that would be supported by the mine and various government departments. Ends