25 Mar 2021

Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Lefoko Moagi says there are 97 expatriates employed at Khoemacau Copper Mine by contract mining company Barminco Botswana.

Mr Moagi, who was responding to a question from Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, said out of 306 employed at Barminco Botswana, 209 were citizens.

He explained that the 97 expatriate employees held 28 occupations at Barminco Botswana because certain positions were occupied by more than one expatriate employee due to the specific work involved hence the reason behind the employment.

“However, the main emphasis is on training and development of local workforce to ultimately localise most, if not all, positions,” he said.

Mr Moagi also added that there had been commitment by the company that the positions held by expatriates would have direct understudies. “Almost all positions held by expatriates had trainees/understudies except where they were still building capacity,” he said.

The minister further highlighted that the mine was still at the development stage and that it was gradually transitioning from project phase to production phase.

“It is therefore critical for the key positions to be held by people with transferable expertise and experience in directing mechanised underground mining operation to ultimately transfer the necessary skills to citizens,” he said. Moreover, Mr Moagi explained that there were currently four management positions with no understudies due to various reasons.

He said the understudy for the position of finance and administration manager had resigned in February 2021 and that the company went to market to find a replacement.

He added that the selection process was almost complete and at offer stage.

Regarding the position of alternate project manager (underground), the minister said the site manager for Barminco was responsible for the day-to-day operations at Zone 5 and would be required for the duration of the contract.

“It is worth noting that there are two employees who have been identified as understudies for this role and currently going through different developmental programmes and levels. The two understudies currently hold the positions of mine captain and shift supervisor,” he said.

Mr Moagi also said concerning the operations manager and diamond drilling manager positions, the company did not have anybody understudying the operations manager and diamond drilling manager.

 He, however, said it was a priority and work in progress to identify understudies either within the team members that were already with the company or as the company recruits new employees.

The minister said the diamond drilling manager was a recent appointment and that a search for an understudy was in process.

Mr Keorapetse had wanted an update on the number of expatriates employed at Khoemacau Copper Mine by contract mining company Barminco Botswana, and the positions or jobs done by these expatriates and to explain the extent of local skills shortage and whether there were citizens understudying these expatriates. ends