07 Jun 2020

Employees of contractors engaged by Khoemacau Copper Mine at Zone 5 site have been commended for a sterling job during the trying times of COVID-19 pandemic.

Khoemacau is situated at Toteng, about 70km from Maun and currently the contractors were working on infrastructure development such as mining village, processing plant and workshops, among others.

Addressing employees during a tour of the mine, Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Lefoko Moagi appreciated that employees continued working while the nation was under lockdown to ensure the mine becomes fully operational.

The pandemic, he said, negatively affected many companies, but they continued with the hard work to push progress, saying the government acknowledged their efforts and viewed the project as a key engine of economic growth not only for Ngamiland region, but for the entire country.

He encouraged them to take their work seriously despite challenges they faced, stressing that they should not be deterred by situations around them, but continue doing the good job as the mine would eventually bring more benefits.

Maun Administrative Authority deputy district commissioner, Ms Goitseone Nkwe-Tabane also motivated the employees not to undermine what they were doing.

The massive project, she said, was going to give a new lease of life to the Ngamiland region as well as the country at large. 

“This project is expected to contribute significantly to the economy once it is in full operation,” she added.

Khoemacau chief executive officer, Mr Johan Ferreira concurred that the employees became more productive during the trying times, hence they made a lot of progress.

He also appreciated that there were no accidents as the mine took safety of its employees seriously and assured the employees that the management would organise an event to celebrate their efforts.

Some of the employees appreciated the minister’s visit, saying it was a motivation to them as they were going through a difficult time of COVID-19 pandemic.

They told the minister that they enjoyed a smooth working relationship with the mine management and wished one of the days, management could consider holding a small session to celebrate their efforts.

Meanwhile, reports had indicated that some mine employees had been accommodated at Rileys hotel in Maun on a 14-day mandatory quarantine. 

The mine has appointed Barmnico, a world class mechanised mining contractor from Australia to undertake the fully mechanised underground mining activities.

It was reported that the contractor charted a flight to bring the said employees to Maun before transiting to Toteng.

The contract manager Mr Rhys Harvey confirmed in an interview that they had 26 employees at the said hotel, noting that they would complete the 14-day quarantine  next week and join the rest of the team. Ends