18 May 2021

Ngami MP, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama, has expressed optimism that Khoemacau copper mine will usher in more developments once production starts.

He said in an interview that they were pinning hopes on the state of the art infrastructure located at the heartland of the Ngamiland District to meaningfully benefit the community within its vicinity.

He urged the mine leadership to increase pace and open more employment opportunities for residents, adding that communities had high expectations that the project was going to give a new lease of life to Ngamiland.

Mr Hikuama appreciated that the mine had absorbed over 90 per cent of residents and expressed disappointment that there were complaints that some employees did not respect work regulations.

He urged all who had been given the opportunity to be proactive and prove management wrong, adding that by so doing the mine would consider hiring more residents.

The MP had accompanied Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Wildlife, Tourism, Natural Resources and Climate Change, which recently paid a visit to the mine.

The committee learnt that the mine had a promising future, considering that Kalahari copperbelt extended from south-west of Maun through to Ghanzi and beyond.

A member of the committee, Dr Unity Dow expressed gratitude towards development at the site stating that the mine had introduced a new kind of mining such as using sophisticated technology that had low impact on the environment.

She said they were expecting quality products from the mine, adding that it was pleasing that women were also given employment opportunities.  

She also commended management saying they had demonstrated to the world that they could mine responsibly. 

“I like the management optimism about the future of the mine and economy of the country. There is drive to knowledge based economy, which enhances resources based economy and this will help young generation to see the future on the other side,” she added.

Committee chairperson, Mr Polson Majaga, concurred that the mine would be one of its kind looking at the technology used and how management took mining seriously to ensure minimal impact on the environment through compliance to national and international standards.

Mr Majaga was hopeful that the economic activity would contribute significantly to the economy and the tourism sector, which was paralysed by the COVID 19 pandemic.

 Khoemacau chief executive officer, Mr Johan Ferreira, explained that the estimated employment impact from the mine was around 1 663 jobs per year. 

He also highlighted that the aim was to train and develop many residents so as to be marketable.

Efforts, he said, were underway to establish a training centre in Maun where they could drill residents in underground works. 

The mine currently employed 97 per cent of residents while the rest were international experts, adding that it was a pity that they could not absorb the right skills. 

Mr Ferrira informed the committee that the mine had attracted international companies who had already injected funds towards the project. 

He said there were plans to expand operations so to  increase output. 

The first copper concentration was expected to be produced in a month’s time. ENDS