25 Jul 2021

Khoemacau Copper Mine management has appreciated government for enabling them to establish and commission their own sub-power station.

Speaking during the tour of the mine recently, the company’s managing director, Mr Boikobo Paya said they managed to establish their own sub-power station via the North West Transmission Grid that government and implemented and completed through Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) this year.

“The Khoemacau Copper Mine spent about P230 million for the sub-power station that is connected to the Legothwana Power sub-station within the North West Transmission Power Grid,” said Mr Paya.

He observed that the North West power grid acted as stimulus since the initial national power supply was not sufficient enough for a mining project of such magnitude.

“By providing the infrastructure as the power grid the government was providing an enabling environment for our company.

Khoemacau Copper Mine utilised about 132kv power from the 400kv North West power grid and that brought more value to the power supply,” he added.

On the other hand, Mr Emmanuel Ntshwarang, who is responsible for the sub-power station, said the copper mine had been relying on power generated through diesel before being connected to the North West Transmission Grid.

“Khoemacau Copper Mine constructed and funded the sub-power station from late 2019 then it was commissioned and handed over to BPC this year in February for operation and maintenance.

The sub-power station operations cost a third of the diesel operation,” he said. ENDS