16 Apr 2023

Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), together with technical partners, AlgoaBrick, have injected P79 million into the reopening of the Lobatse Clay Works.

Briefing the media during a tour of the plant recently, BDC head of corporate affairs, Ms Boitshwarelo Lebang-Kgetse said their plan was to reopen the plant in August and get it back to its glory days.

“We are looking into starting operations somewhere is August or September.

We believe the business will once again contribute to the economic development and stimulate economic activities in Lobatse and across the country and make social impact by creating jobs for Batswana.

We are looking at creating over 141 direct jobs and there will be a lot more indirect jobs,” Ms Lebang-Kgetse said.

She explained that LCW, which was set up in 1992, ceased operation in 2017 due to operational constraints which included marketing, aging equipment and expensive fuel.

“A decision was taken to pause operations, re-look into the business and return to production and back into the market when it is in a better position to compete and be profitable,” she said.

She said at the time of ceasing  operation, Lobatse Clay Works was producing three million bricks per month and 36 million per annum, adding, “We are considering getting back to that or better.”

She indicated that works on site commenced in August last year with all equipment stripped and new ones ordered while some would be refurbished. The project is currently 60 per cent complete.

During refurbishment, she said they had created 45 jobs and retained 19 employees to keep the business going as it was positioned for operation later in the year.

Ms Lebang-Kgetse further told the media that once the project was complete, they would give previous employees priority.

She said owing to the returns, they were looking into expanding into the region, with a two prone approach and further making social impact in the country’s economy.

“We have done our market study in the region and there is a market in Botswana and regionally.

We are looking into Namibia, Zimbabwe and the North West region in South Africa,” she said.

Ms Lebang-Kgetse further indicated that with the refurbished business, they were also looking at a more efficient plant in terms of output and a lot more per hour than they used to, adding that they were also looking into cutting costs in terms of fuel by using the hybrid one. ENDS