07 Feb 2018

Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security paid over P107 million and P30 million as subvention to the Mineral Development Company Botswana (MDCB) and Botswana Geoscience Institute (BGI) respectively in the 2016/17 financial year.

This was revealed in Parliament by Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele in response to a question on behalf of mineral resources minister, Advocate Sadique Kebonang.

Mr Makgalemele further said MDCB received the same amount in the previous financial year while BGI received P33 million. 

He further said MDCB declared a profit of over P70 million in the 2016/17 financial year and a loss in 2015/16 while BGI was not a profit making organisation.

Concerning other parastatal organisations under the ministry, Mr Makgalemele said Botswana Power Corporation could not declare a profit in the past years.

“But we are confident that through the implementation of the Masa 2020 restructuring strategy the situation will change,” he said.

He added that Botswana Oil Limited declared an P8.88 million profit in 2014/15 and P12.25 million profit in 2015/16, while Okavango Diamond Company declared dividends in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 financial years.

Specially Elected MP, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo had wanted to know how much the ministry paid as subventions to various bodies and companies under it, and whether any of the statutory bodies had declared profits. ENDS