05 Sep 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama visited BCL Mine in Selebi Phikwe on Saturday.

He had earlier on visited Phase I/Ikageleng and Botshabelo wards in the Selebi Phikwe East constituency.

President Khama was accompanied by the Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, also Selebi Phikwe East MP, Mr Nonofo Molefhi, MP for Mmadinare Mr Kefentse Mzwinila, Selebi Phikwe mayor Mr Amogelang Mojuta and government officials.

Mr Enock Mukosora, BCL Mine’s metallurgist, told President Khama that the mine had a debt of close to P1 billion. 

He said prices of the mine’s product had dropped in the past 12 months from as high as US$8 to around US$4.50 compared to normal operating costs of around US$7,.

This, he said, meant the mine was running at a cost. 

He explained that the highest prices of copper/nickel the mine recorded was between 2001 and 2002 where the prices went up to US$19. 

Mr Mukosora said the prices went from US$19 to US$10 between 2008 and 2010. 

He added that in 2014 and 2015, the prices went further down and currently the commodity price hovered around US$4.

The mine’s manager mining, Mr  Modise Gaoetswe,  said the mine was also facing challenges because mining the mineral ore was becoming too deep and costly.

He said the deepest shaft was about two kilometres deep while other mining operations took place about 1km deep. 

Mr  Gaoetswe added that the cost for introducing new technology at the mine would be expensive and they could not afford to do so because the mine was in debt. 

He  explained  to President Khama that whilst mining was getting too deep and costly, the quality of the mineral resource remained constant but the quantity of the mineral was gradually getting less.

He also explained that converting mining to open pit would not be economical as the mineral ore was deep. 

Meanwhile Mr Modisaotsile Bogopa, also  metallurgist at BCL Minem said the smelter, which was one of the mine’s valuable assets was operational.

It smelted mineral ore from the BCL Mine and other mines such as Nkomati Mine in South Africa partially owned by BCL Mine and mines in United States, among other places. 

He said they were in the process of acquiring mineral ore from Australia to process at the BCL smelter.

Mr Bogopa said in future, they might slow down on mining at the shafts and concentrate on smelting higher volume of mineral resources sourced from other mines in the country and around the world.

Meanwhile, Minister Molefhi said in an interview tha t government was working around the clock to find ways to resuscitate the BCL Mine so that the mine could pay-off  its debts and sustain itself. 

He also stated that President Khama had assigned five ministers including himself and Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila, to do more indepth research on how to save the mine. Ends