17 May 2022

Robust exploitation of natural resources and in-country value addition particularly from the mining industry remains key in developing an enduring and sustainable mining industry, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mr Lefoko Moagi has said.

Minister Moagi said this officially opening a two-day Botswana Resources Infrastructure Energy Forum in Gaborone on Monday.

Minister Moagi said the forum, which premiered under the new branding, provided delegates in the minerals sector with insights on what government and private sector were doing in effort to develop an enduring and sustainable mining industry. He said the ministry was thus engaged in some fundamental development plans to effectively managing minerals and ensuring direct benefit to the entire populace.

Mr Moagi told delegates that the 2022 Botswana Minerals Policy that was adopted by Parliament on March 31 this year provided guiding principles for the development and growth of the minerals sector, taking into account current as well as emerging issues.

“The Diamond Cutting Amendment Bill and the Precious and Semi-Precious Stones (Protection) Amendment Bill were passed into Acts before Parliament on August 16, 2021. Amendment of the Mines and Minerals Act is also in progress. Through these developments, the government is positioning itself to make Botswana a conducive environment for mining and ultimately achieving its goal of being a mining destination of choice,” he added.

Moreover, the minister stated that numerous projects were being undertaken to sustain the mining industry, among them the Jwaneng Cut 9 Project, whose mining contract was reviewed in 2020, to switch over from contractor mining to owner-operated mining and was progressing well.

“The project will extend the mine life for Jwaneng to 2035. To further extend the life of Jwaneng Mine, feasibility study work on Post-Cut 9 Project is ongoing with a focus on underground mining as an option,” the minister stated.

Mr Moagi urged all concerned to ensure that they did not delay the underground project to avoid potential revenue gaps come 2035.

He added that the Orapa Mine Cut 3 project, which was still in the feasibility phase, was anticipated to extend the life of the mine from 2031 to 2046.

“As for other noteworthy developments, Karowe Mine  owned by Lucara Botswana, commenced the construction of its underground mine, to prepare for the transition from open-pit mining to underground mining in 2025.

The underground project is said to increase Karowe mine life to 2041,” he said.

Also, he said Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) which started development and expansion of its open cast mine, the ‘Motheo Project’, commenced stripping of the over-burden in 2021 and production of coal from the open cast was anticipated to start in the Second Quarter of 2022.

“MCM was urged to move boldly beyond the anticipated nameplate capacity to take advantage of global coal demand, especially from Europe and the Far East,” he stated.

Further, he indicated that Khoemacau Copper Mining, which started production of copper-silver concentrate in July last year, was continuing to ramp up production, and expected to reach full capacity in the second quarter of 2022.

Mr Moagi said other developments were in the Kalahari Copper belt, PNR Copper Nickel, Iron ore in Ikongwe and prospects in the North West, Manganese prospecting in Kgwakgwe and Otse areas as well as a whole host of heightened exploration for various minerals across the country.

In other issues, Minister Moagi indicated that at the summit of the recent array of developments, Botswana had, in January this year, assumed the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process for 2022.

“The chairmanship revolves among participating countries on an annual basis. As chair, Botswana will host the Kimberley Process Intercessional meeting in June and a plenary session in November this year. The Kimberley Process, which is a United Nations-mandated initiative, continues to play an important role in ensuring, through its certification system, and peer review mechanism, that conflict diamonds do not enter the legitimate trade in rough diamonds,” Minister Moagi said.. ends