08 Nov 2021

 The number of people employed in the mining industry is expected to increase, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said. 

In his State-of-the-Nation Address today, President Masisi said the mining sector had employed 18 085 people of which 17 660 or 97 per cent were citizens. The figures, he said, were expected to rise once Tshukudu Metals extension began operations next year. 

He said the Khoemacau Copper Mining plant at Boseto was also expected to increase employment upon reaching full production, noting that the mine had invested over P10 billion in the project. 

Furthermore, Dr Masisi said Morupule coal mine’s Motheo open pit and a coal washing plant aimed at expanding coal production by one million tonnes per year were progressing well. 

He said the first washed coal from the project was expected by October 2022. Furthermore, he noted that there was also progress at the Minergy coal project in Medie in Kweneng District. 

He said the construction and commissioning of the coal processing plant was expected to reach full production during the first half of 2022. Dr Masisi also noted that the mining licence for Lucara Botswana’s Karowe Mine was renewed in December 2020. 

The mine was expected to transition to underground production by 2026. Furthermore, he explained that following the termination of Majwe mine contract at the Jwaneng Cut 9 project in April 2021, Debswana successfully transitioned to a hybrid mining model. “This is an owner mining operation with some key services being provided by local entrepreneurs,” he said. The transition, President Masisi said, had created opportunities for the business community. 

He also noted that Debswana had been implementing a Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy (CEEP) since 2017. 

He said the policy had led to the establishment of a fully resourced CEEP office in 2019 and that the company intended to deliver a shared citizen spend value of P20 billion and create 20 000 jobs by 2024. President Masisi said the CEEP high returns would be achieved through entrepreneurial capacity building, among other things. 

In addition, he said the BCL mine had been acquired by Premium Nickel Resources (PNR) Botswana. Dr Masisi said when operational, more jobs would be created in Selebi Phikwe and surrounding areas. Furthermore, he noted that rough diamonds had increased by five per cent on average during the second quarter of 2021. 

Therefore, they presented the much needed revenue to sustain the economy during the difficult period. ENDS