17 Oct 2018

Debswana has been commended for empowering and equipping Batswana with skills as well as employing local expertise.

Speaking after a tour of Orapa and Letlhakane mines’ facilities on October 15, Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Eric Molale commended Debswana for employing local expertise in its mining operations.

He added that employing local expertise was also a strategic cost-cutting measure.

The minister also noted that Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa mines would be embarking on the Cut 3 project, saying the expectation was that they would be fully prepared to kick-start the project.

He said government’s objective was to see citizen participation in mining activities as the Cut 3 project began.

Mr Molale noted that employment opportunities would also be created through the project. He said as people got employed, the buying power would increase which would in return boost the local economy.

He applauded Debswana for its efforts on cost cutting, adding that there was need for continuous improvement on cost cutting.

Mr Molale also called for local production of ferrosilicon, which is currently imported from South Africa. Ferrosilicon is used for the separation of diamonds from diamond bearing material.

The minister also toured the newly built haul truck workshop which was described as a theater for machineries.

The workshop is used for the maintenance of earth moving equipment such as drills, shovels, loaders and trucks.

Maintenance engineer, Ms Lesedi Paya explained that they serviced their machineries after they accumulated stipulated hours, noting that some machineries were serviced every 260 hours.

Ms Paya also said some  machine components were changed as they met a certain number of hours.

She added that they prepared by assembling engines before the machinery arrived for maintenance. She noted that it cut the time that machines would be down without being productive.

Ms Paya also noted that the new workshop was more spacious and convenient as they no longer had to assemble big machinery under harsh weather conditions as it was previously the case.

She said the overall cost savings of mining stood at 60 per cent due to the workshop and the maintenance department.

Asset management engineer, Mr Lefoko Sethoko said they had seen an increase in productivity since they moved into the new workshop.

Mr Sethoko also said they always ensured that their personnel was upskilled, and that they took their employees for further training in Johannesburg or Italy depending on where they had sourced their products.

At Letlhakane mine, employees complained that they were against the use of the scannex machine, and also called for an increment and bonuses.

In response, the minister said the machine has been introduced, but was not yet used due to the fact that consultations on its use were still ongoing.

He, however, urged them to have trust on management. ENDS