17 May 2021

Orapa Mine has been commended for its plans to shift  to green technology.

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Wildlife, Tourism, Natural Resources and Climate Change chairperson, Mr Polson Majaga described the move as impressive during a tour of the mine Saturday.

The most interesting part, he said, was the use of solar energy at  the mine’s administration office block. 

Mr Majaga explained that the committee’s interest was on sustainable exploitation of minerals and strategies put in place for ‘greening’ mine operations.

The aim of the visit was to establish challenges faced by the mine so as to come up with laws and policies that would facilitate   profitability. 

Commenting on the workforce, Mr Majaga expressed gratitude that the majority of mining and engineering management positions were held by locals.

Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa mines general manager, Mr Bakani Motlhabani said the intention was to gradually move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy. 

He said the commitment was to become carbon neutral and to have undertaken several neutrality projects by 2030.

The mine, he said, aspired to be a global benchmark in the diamond business including operations, production and selling to the market.

Mr Motlhabani said the mine had adopted a “one dream one team” strategy with the aim of focusing on value chain creation. 

The intension was to create value of at least P10 billion by 2024, improving efficiency and doing things differently, he said.

Mr Motlhabani pointed out that technology advancement had   improved operational efficiency citing digitization of processes.

Adoption of new technology did not mean lay offs but devising of opportunities and careers for the future, he said.

Pointing out that environment, safety and governance matters were now top priority for businesses, Mr Motlhabani said the mine aimed to be a step ahead on the stated issues.

He said workplace controls were in place to meet social distancing requirements while the mine ensured that all employees had PPE. 

COVID-19 testing was conducted regularly with more than 50 000 tests done since August 2020, he said explaining that 1 300 tested positive while seven succumbed.

He revealed that a campaign to test for underlying conditions had started because knowing one’s status meant being able to control and manage risk. 

Different committee members commented and asked questions.

MP for Kgalagadi South Mr Sam Brooks wanted to know the relationship between Debswana and DeBeers as well as whether the latter dictated policies. 

He also wanted to know whether in terms of social corporate responsibility, Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines only concentrated in villages in its area of operation. 

For his part, Maun West MP Mr Dumelang Saleshando expressed concern that there were no recognisable manufacturing companies in Letlhakane supplying the mine.

Local procurement, he said, amounted to less than one per cent. 

Mr Saleshando also wanted to know if there were any plans to have a solar panel manufacturing plant in Boteti. 

Mr Majaga called for the opening up of Orapa Mine.

Explaining the Debswana-DeBeers relationship, Mr Motlhabani said Debswana was owned by DeBeers and government 50-50.

He said even though it was a 50-50 partnership, in terms of revenue earnings, government through taxes and royalties, got up to 80 per cent.

Debswana’s primary responsibility, he said, was to generate returns for its shareholders.

On corporate social responsibility, Mr Motlhabani said the company  operated within its environs but also had projects further afield.ends