18 Mar 2020

Government is exploring viability of diversifying the economy through high value mineral and chemical products such as potash, fertilizer, salt and detergents to create jobs.

The Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Lefoko Moagi said in Parliament on Monday that government was partnering with a South African company on some projects through Botswana Ash (BOTASH) at a cost of US$328 million. He said the project was at an advanced stage.

“They need to finance that project in the form of 70 per cent debt and 30 per cent equity. The project is in progress,” he said.

This, he said was considered based on the realisation that the country was exporting jobs and it was high time Batswana benefitted.

Mr Moagi also said he had tasked some departments and mines under his ministry to ensure that Batswana benefitted from Citizen Economic Empowerment policy.

He said he had since written to them on February, this year to commit to giving Batswana preference on such jobs.

“If it means terminating some projects, we will do that, owing to the 52 years of our country experience in mining,” he said.

He also said Botswana was also following with keen interest the developments on synthetic diamonds and a project called Light box was being piloted adding that Botswana was represented at board level to follow on what was happening.

Mr Moagi further said a substation for greater Gaborone that was under construction would be bring about power stability.

Mr Moagi further said  coal use would be minimal because of the need to go green, but noted that Botswana would make a position as a country as to what could be done to exploit coal resources.

He said rural electrification was being monitored and that Batswana were being empowered on the projects.

Furthermore, he said rural electrification was also continuing and that off grid solar was on cards to benefit rural communities.

He said government would ensure that clinics, kgotlas and schools in the rural areas benefitted from solar power as soon as government afforded cost of its storage.

Mr Moagi also said the ministry was also working to ensure that Batswana benefitted from licenses in quarry and sand mining.

He said the Geo-Science Institute was gathering information on exploration of industrial minerals such as lime stone to assist Batswana, adding that the information gathered was in the public domain so that Batswana interested could benefit for free of charge.

To this end, he said communities were encouraged to form groups and benefit from such to create employment.

Earlier on, MPs called on government to ensure that more power stations were constructed to minimise electricity import bill.

Legislators also called for renewable energy power stations, to utilise ample sun light in the country.

Vice President and MP for Boteti West, Mr Slumber Tsogwane called for the electrification of Toromoja, Mmadikola and Motopi, citing that the villages were in the proximity of the power grid, yet they were not connected.

Nkange MP, Dr Never Tshabang called for free connection of electricity, adding that government would accrue profit from prepaid electricity following free connection. He said P5 000 was steep for some Batswana.

He also complained about land degradation due to uncontrollable sand mining, adding that strict penalties should apply to curb the practice.

MP for Tlokweng, Mr Thulagano Segokgo called for a policy that would encourage generation of power by independent producers for fields and cattle posts.

MP for Molepolole North, Mr Oabile Regoeng complained that the abandoned pits by sand miners in his constituency had become dumping sites for the city dwellers who threw rubble and other toxic materials.

Meanwhile, Parliament approved the Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security budget proposals over P1.7 billion for 2020/21 financial year. Ends