09 May 2022

Botswana, whose economic growth has been largely spurred on by mineral resources, still has room for growth in the mining of commodities as well as its value chain.

According to President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, that was because a vast of Botswana’s landmass had neither been fully explored nor exploited for mineral deposits.

 He was giving the keynote address yesterday at the Investment In African Mining Indaba held in Cape Town, South Africa.

“Approximately 25 per cent of Botswana land area is covered by pre-Kalahari geological frame formations and this is where most of the current operating mines in Botswana have been discovered. 

The unexposed 75 per cent covered by sands are potential untapped mineral prospects that can drive mineral investment,” Dr Masisi said.

He said Botswana had the potential to be the next prospect for future development of commodity extraction and the resultant economic development.

President Masisi informed his audience that government had been working on formulating the requisite policy and institutional frameworks to ensure more exploration of mining countrywide.

“The government is completing a project that will also bring coverage of geological mapping to 90 per cent nationwide through interpretation of geophysics data covering northern Botswana that has in the past remained largely unexplored due to sand cover and remoteness,” he said.

In addition, government continued to invest in creating free competition data to promote exploration.

“We continue to expand the country’s geological knowledge by mapping the subsurface geology to unlock mineral potential as well as provide comprehensive data to the private sector investment in mineral exploration,” the President said.

President Masisi therefore urged mining investors to come to Botswana with their expertise and capital to assist in expanding the country’s mineral sector.

“We implore mining investors present at this Mining Indaba to seriously consider coming to Botswana to carry out exploration and mining projects,” he said.

In addition to addressing the mining conference,  President Masisi also met with various industry stakeholders. Ends