11 Feb 2018

Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security embarked on a pre-feasibility study to determine the viability of a base metals refinery in 2015

The objective of the facility would be to maximise value and benefits through the downstream processing of base metals produced in Botswana and in the region.

This was said by Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Prince Maele on behalf of the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security.

The study, Mr Maele said, concluded that there was a strong basis for the project to proceed to the next stage to determine the viability of establishing a base metals refinery in Botswana.

He, however, said the ministry could not immediately progress the project to a feasibility study due to financial constraints.

He highlighted that market prices worsened the situation which led to mining companies going into care and maintenance.

Mr Maele said the plan was to take into account other emerging prospecting projects, and to use new resource estimate information to progress to the feasibility study.

He also said innovation, research and development skills would be required during the feasibility stage.

He added that research into optimum ways of recovering base metals and coming up with ways of solving problems posed by specific products being refined would be needed.

Mr Maele further explained that during NDP 10, the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security embarked on a diversification drive of the mineral sector, particularly the non-diamond minerals in order to increase revenue from minerals available in Botswana such as copper, nickel and silver.

The minister said for many years Botswana had not taken advantage of the entire value chain in the base metal industry.

The copper industry, he added, was also facing challenges of fluctuations of market prices.

Jwaneng-Mabutsane MP, Mr Shawn Nthaile had asked the minister what assessment had been made of the potential contribution of innovation, research and development to the future viability of the Botswana copper industry.  Ends