Tsodilo Resources Limited, a mineral exploration company with key projects in north-western Botswana, is poised to make a significant impact on the country’s economy landscape through job creation, skills development, and contributions to GDP growth.

Speaking during a presentation held in Gaborone on September 2, the company’s managing director, Mr James Bruchs announced major strides in the development of the Xaudum Iron Formation (XIF) project located in the Ngamiland region.

He said that the Tier 1 development marks a critical phase in Tsodilo’s commitment to becoming a long-term economic partner to Botswana. “With this project, we are positioning Tsodilo Resources not only as a significant player in the mining sector, but as a catalyst for broader economic growth,” he said.

Mr Bruchs said that XIF project was expected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs throughout its exploration, development, and operational phases. He said that Tsodilo Resources was committed to prioritising local employment, ensuring that surrounding communities benefited directly from the economic activity generated by the project. 

In addition to employment opportunities, he said the company was working closely with educational institutions and vocational training centres to develop specialised training programmes aimed at equipping Batswana with the necessary skills to participate in the mining value chain. “This is about more than just mining, it is about creating long-term skills and career paths for our people in a key growth sector,” he noted. 

Mr Bruchs said some of those initiatives included on-the-job training, internships for geology and engineering students, and mentorship programmes for young professionals.

Echoing same sentiments, Mr Asele Maboshe, a geologist with Tsodilo Resources, said the project’s progression towards production would significantly bolster Botswana’s GDP. 

He said that the export of high-grade iron ore was currently in high demand globally, and it was expected to become a major revenue stream. Furthermore, he said the project was poised to stimulate a range of supporting industries including transportation, logistics, and services, while driving critical infrastructure investments in rail, road, power, and water systems, adding that such developments could pave the way for broader economic progress in the Ngamiland region.

Mr Maboshe said that preliminary economic assessments indicated that XIF project would generate millions of pula in government revenue through taxes, royalties, and licensing fees; funds that could be reinvested in the national priorities such as infrastructure, education, and healthcare. 

He emphasised that Tsodilo’s expansion aligned with Botswana’s Vision 2036, which aimed to diversify the economy beyond diamonds and fostered a knowledge-based society.

“Mining will remain an integral part of our economy, but we are looking at smarter, more inclusive growth, projects like Tsodilo’s demonstrate how the private sector can support national priorities, from job creation to technological innovation,” he said.

Mr Maboshe that said as Tsodilo Resources Limited forged ahead with XIF project, stakeholders should remain optimistic that its success would serve as a model for sustainable and inclusive resource development in Botswana. ENDS