07 Nov 2022

Lobatse Clay Works will reopen next year after five years of closure of business.  

Lobatse Clay Works Sales Manager Ms Ellen Sellwe said in an interview on the sidelines of the just-ended Global Expo that the company, wholly-owned by the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) has earmarked July 2023 as the date for the commencement of production.

“The move by BDC to inject capital into the project has closed a difficult chapter for Lobatse Clay Works which faced difficulties in performance targets resulting in the business eventually collapsing in 2017,” she said.

Ms Sellwe explained that during the turbulent times, BDC tried unsuccessfully to identify potential technical partners for the business.

However, after failing to find a partner, she said BDC ultimately resolved to turn the company around by refurbishing the Lobatse Plant and adopting a new strategic plan.

Ms Sellwe said the multimillion pula turnaround project had already commenced and a consultant with vast knowledge in the industry of clay brick manufacturing had been engaged to oversee this project.

The turnaround project would mainly focus on the reduction of cost of production through the adoption of cheaper methods for burning bricks, adding that the previous method of using liquid paraffin was expensive.

“The method of firing using liquid paraffin was expensive when compared to using coal which is cheaper and locally available,” she added.

She said the use of local coal would also reduce the price of their products, giving customers the opportunity to buy quality clay bricks at a lower price.

In addition, she said another intervention by the turnaround project would be the adoption of latest and most efficient clay brick production technologies.

She said there would also be the implementation of internationally recommended work patterns and an aggressive approach to regain local and external markets.

Ms Sellwe said Lobatse Clay Works which manufactures clay phase bricks, stock bricks and pavers would start with a workforce of not less than 150 workers and added that the recruitment drive had not yet started. ENDS