10 Jul 2018

Government  plans to undertake a project on the rehabilitation of the BCL mine and its environs, says Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Mr Tshekedi Khama.

Mr Khama told Parliament on  Monday that  through the project, a detailed and costed rehabilitation plan would be developed and accordingly implemented to address environmental issues. 

The initial stages were expected to be implemented effective this year.

Mr Khama further told the house that the eminent environmental hazards that were likely to come with the closure of BCL mine included inter alia, contamination of the local ground water aquifer, dust emissions from the tailings storage facility, high levels of sulphate pollution, pollution of surface water sources, soil erosion and risk of permanent degradation.

He further said the most significant risk was the effect on water quality, if the available water resources would be fit for human consumption and if it would remain adequate to support aquatic life, terrestrial wildlife and livestock.

Mr Khama was responding to Member of Parliament for Lobatse Advocate Sadique Kebonang, who had asked the minister to state the eminent environmental hazards following the closure of BCL mine.

MP Kebonang  further asked  what government was doing to attend to the estimated costs of the identified environmental issues. BOPA