28 Jul 2025

Sandfire, the platinum sponsor of the 2025 Ghanzi Show, has announced plans to scale up its community investment programme, including the development of solar-powered generation in the region. 

This initiative is expected to be a valuable asset beyond the current eight-year Life of Mine (LoM). The announcement was made during the 51^st Ghanzi Show on Saturday, which brought together farmers, spectators, and government departments to discuss innovative approaches to transforming the agricultural sector.

In his address, Sandfire’s Head of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, Mr Phologo Gaumakwe, highlighted the company’s increased exploration budget, positioning them to discover new copper deposits. This would extend the life of mine and contribute to economic growth.

Mr Gaumakwe expressed enthusiasm for partnering with the government to identify next-generation community programmes and build local supply chain capacity to support citizen economic empowerment.

Sandfire Resources, the largest copper-focused company on the Australian Securities Exchange, operates the Motheo Copper Mine in the Kalahari Copper Belt through its subsidiary, Tshukudu Metals Botswana. 

“Our journey in Ghanzi began in 2021 with the Motheo Mine Project, located 70 kilometers north of here. Since starting commercial production in July 2023, the mine has grown into a world-class processing hub, increasing capacity from 3.2 million tonnes annually to over 5.5 million tonnes, creating approximately 1 700 jobs, including contractors,” said Mr Gaumakwe.

Sandfire is now the largest pure-play copper producer listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, with a market value exceeding AU$5 billion (over P43 billion Pula).

Mr Gaumakwe credited the supportive business environment fostered by the government for these achievements.

To date, Sandfire has invested over P7.6 billion, and with rising copper demand, the company aims to continue adding economic value to Botswana. 

“Our copper operations will help mitigate the current economic downturn. From discovery to production, we are committed to becoming a sustainable mining company and a significant global copper producer,” said Mr Gaumakwe.

He praised business partners like African Mining Services (AMS), Simolola Drilling Services, Kwa Nokeng Oil, IFS, and Pindulo for their commitment to corporate citizenship and community development. 

“True corporate citizenship goes beyond business transactions to include social responsibility, community upliftment, training, upskilling, and inclusive development,” he noted.

Mr Gaumakwe emphasised that participating in the Ghanzi Show allowed Sandfire and its partners to connect with a broader audience, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and reaffirm their commitment to delivering lasting, positive contributions to local communities.

Sandfire’s community initiatives are guided by four pillars: Community Health, Education, Women Empowerment, and Youth Development.

The company collaborates with partners to understand community needs and create shared value.

In villages such as Kuke, D’Kar, Qabo, Grootlaagte, Hanahai, and Ghanzi Town, Sandfire engages with stakeholders, including Dikgosi and Village Development Committees, to support local initiatives.

Focus areas, Mr Gaumakwe said, included health and wellness, horticulture production, water infrastructure development, disaster management, eliminating gender-based violence, fostering entrepreneurship, empowering women, nurturing sports talent, and promoting road safety. ENDS