21 Jul 2020

Government is committed to transforming the country’s economy by re-focusing its existing policies and strategies.

Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security’s, Mr Lefoko Moagi, said this when addressing Ghanzi District leadership before touring Tshukudu Metals Botswana (TMB) Mine recently.

He  said revised policies would ease doing business and attract investors so as to create an inclusive economy.

The minister said citizen inclusiveness would ensure a stable operating environment since companies would be able to expand market opportunities as well as to mitigate regulatory risks and uncertainties.

Mr Moagi applauded TMB, a locally owned company, for its determination to open up copper mine in Ghanzi area, saying the copper excavating would contribute to economic diversification in the district, which had been solely  for livestock production.

The mining project, he said, would not only benefit Ghanzi community, but the entire country.

Mr Moagi further implored the district leadership to be involved so as to appreciate challenges and opportunities that might be brought by the project and, where possible, provide solutions to allow the production to kick start.

He encouraged the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and other stakeholders to issue essential licenses on time to allow production to start.

Moreover, he encouraged the company to partake in the on-going submissions regarding the upcoming amendment mine bill that he said would be debated in the coming parliamentary sitting in for July.

He said their submissions would be valuable as the legislators would be able to appreciate the challenges besieging the mining industry and devise possible strategies to address them for easy attraction of local and external investors.

For welcome remarks, Ghanzi District Council chairperson, Mr Thato Tshweneyagae, lauded TMB saying the mine would address issues of employment within the community.

He said the project would also ensure skills transfer.

Mr Tshweneyage also encouraged TMB to continue with its corporate social responsibilities because it was one of the requirements for companies operating in different communities to extend a helping hand to uplift livelihoods.

He further implored TMB to have a quota training for completing students especially those who were from Rural Area Dwellers (RADP) for them to acquire more technical skills.

For his part, TMB executive director and country manager, Mr Gaba Chinyepe, said TMB would be the operator of the Motheo Copper project.

He said the project was expected to produce 30 000 tonnes per annum of concentrate starting within a 10-year mine life.

Motheo copper project, he said, would be submitting their mining licence application from August/September and 1 000 jobs would be created during construction phase.

TMB would directly employ 400-450 people.

Member of Parliament for Ghanzi South, Mr Motsamai Motsamai, appealed to the minerals ministry to expand the exploration and mining of natural resources around their constituency in places such as Ncojane (paraffin) and Metsimantsho (coal) for the creation of more job opportunities.

He also pleaded with the minister to speed up  construction of the fuel storage facility in Ghanzi and also that the long promised railway line to connect Botswana and Namibia should be prioritised.

Mr Motsamai said it would save the country during difficult times especially the fuel crisis that recently besieged the country. ENDS