12 Feb 2019

Parliament has been informed that there is no need for gemologists at the Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) or Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) because the companies only deal with rough diamonds.

Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Eric Molale said this when answering a question from specially elected MP Mr Mephato Reatile on Monday.

Mr Molale further explained that the two companies did not deal in polished or jewellery segment of the diamond value chain, where a gemologist would be needed.

He said ODC had a team of seven Batswana currently performing rough diamond valuation, assortment quality assurance and diamond technical sale lots creation.

In addition, he said, “DTCB mandate is restricted to sorting and valuing of rough diamonds, and has a staff compliment of 405.

The DTCB has 18 Batswana who are diamond sorter trainees.”

He also told the house that associations were naturally industry-led initiatives and therefore should the local industry grow to such an extent that it develops a need for a gemologist association, ‘we will welcome its formation.’

Mr Reatile had wanted to know the number of Batswana gemologists and diamond trading specialists at DTCB and ODC.

Mr Reatile also asked the minister when Botswana would establish an accredited gemologist association. On the issue of training of electrical engineers by Botswana Power Corporation, Minister Molale stated that within the power transmission area, the corporation had 15 qualified engineers trained in protection, control and system automation.

“BPC does not have push/pull control cables within its network,  therefore no one was trained by the company in the field,” he said.

He highlighted that 48 qualified engineers were trained in electric power generation, while seven were trained in line distribution operation, construction and maintenance.

Further, Minister Molale explained that within the power transmission area, seven engineers were scheduled to undergo training in system protection and design of transmission lines between February 23 and April 18.

In electrical power generation, he said, training had been ongoing since October 13, 2014 and the last was completed in June 21, 2018.

He added that in the same field between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020 about 24 engineers would be trained in plant simulation, four in turbine controls and advanced boiler tuning and eight in root cause analysis.

Minister Molale stated that in line distribution operation, construction and maintenance, the last training was conducted on September 3 to 7 last year. “In the same field, 15 engineers are scheduled to undergo training in High Voltage Operation and Switching (HVOS), scheduled to commence on April 1 and end on March 31, 2020,” he said.

 

He was responding to a question from MP Reatile, who asked the minister to state the number of electrical engineers who had been sent for further training by BPC for power transmission specialist, push/pull control cables, electrical power generation and power line distribution courses.

Mr Reatile also wanted to know when the electrical engineers were expected to complete their studies. ENDS