18 Dec 2024

Jindal Africa Mining Botswana will absorb 20 engineering graduates of different disciplines into the Mmamabula Power Development Project.

Speaking at the commencement of the graduate engineers project in Gaborone on Monday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Jimmy Opelo said the 20 young Batswana would be drilled into intensive hands-on training.

Mr Opelo said the graduates would be engaged in the construction phase as apprentice engineers and be appointed to permanent positions during the operation phase.

He said during the implementation of the project, 20 local graduate engineers would be absorbed every year. He also said government pledged to ensure employment creation, with Jindal Africa Mining Botswana being one such testimony.

Mr Opelo said Botswana prioritised investment promotion, which was expected to bring employment opportunities, especially for young people.

He also said since investors and companies were encouraged to have localisation and skills transfer programmes in place, government and Jindal Africa Mining Botswana have signed a Human Resource Agreement, and the company had committed to train and transfer skills to Botswana.

Also, Mr Opelo said the creation of decent employment and a conducive environment were central to government. 

“To this end, the Ministry will, through the Labour Inspection Unit, conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance to the Human Resource Agreement and the Labour and Occupational Health and Safety Laws,” he said.

He stated that government had contracted Jindal Africa to develop a 600 MW Energy Project in Mmamabula under the three-year Power Purchase Agreement.

For his part, Jindal Africa Mining Botswana, country director and project head, Mr Neeraj Saxena, said the company had put effort into identifying prospective graduates.

Mr Saxena said graduates should remember that they were building nations and empowering communities and should, therefore, give their all to ensure excellence.

“You are joining a company that values innovation, sustainability and development,” he said. ENDS