13 Jul 2026

Jwaneng is earmarked to be home to a truck staging facility providing services to heavy duty trucks delivering services to the mine and others on transit along the Trans Kalahari Corridor. The project, a collaborative investment between Botswana Oil Limited(BOL) and Jwaneng Mine worth P18.8 million, is scheduled to commence next month and be completed by March next year. The development, strategically located along the TKC, comprises 25 modern bay truck parking, driver resting and sanitation immunities among other services.  

In addition to enhancing efficiency in the transportation sector, the facility would also provide the much needed safety for the transporters and the cargo, while also stimulating long-term local economic activity. 

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony held on Friday, BOL General Manager for Operations, Mr Otto Motsopa described the development as a testament of a shared vision by the two partners towards sustainable development. He said the facility would also contribute towards economic empowerment, which resonated with their business operations.

The 25-parking bay facility, he said would go beyond improving operational risk management for the mining operation since it also enhanced trade logistics and road safety along the highway. 

“The facility has been designed to serve two important categories of road users, the first one being to accommodate heavy duty trucks delivering goods in the mine, including general cargo, as well as hazardous material such as petroleum products and any other regulated substance that require specialised handling and secure parking. 

Secondly, it will serve heavy duty trucks transiting along the Trans Kalahari Highway, one of Botswana’s most strategic regional trade corridor linking our country to the neighbouring markets,” he noted.

He further said this was an essential investment in the logistics sector, considering the importance of efficient and safe transportation of fuel in the economic drive. Mr Motsopa said it would go a long way in building the country’s resilience and creating opportunities for local participation in the broader economic transformation agenda. 

To Jwaneng Mine, the facility resonates with the newly launched Debswana Strategy, Yamasa, whose emphasis is on building a resilient business that would leave a sustainable legacy beyond diamond mining. In addition, it is expected to contribute towards upholding the best safety practices which Debswana operations subscribe to.

“The facility will improve traffic management, enhance emergency preparedness, reduce operational risks and support for the safe movement of people and goods. This improvement will help us maintain safe, reliable and efficient mining operations while protecting our employees, business partners, transport operators and the wider community, an outcome that firmly aligns with the Yamasa Strategy,” Jwaneng Mine General Manager, Mr Goitseone Gadifele said.

To the local community, he noted that the project was expected to create close to 100 employment opportunities during construction, while also stimulating value chain in other areas such as fuel stations, vehicle maintenance and tyre services which would contribute towards economic diversification. 

Jwaneng/Mabutsane Member of Parliament, Mr Omphemetse Kwapa appreciated the partnership between the two companies, which he said have given birth to an essential investment in the logistics space and the local economy. He applauded them for the long-term vision from which the facility was conceptualised. 

“This facility has the potential to become the nucleus of a broader logistics and commercial hub, creating opportunities for fuel retail services, vehicle maintenance, tyre service, wash bays, accommodation, hospitality and other enterprises. These are type of investments that diversify our local economy and prepare Jwaneng for sustained growth,” he noted.

He implored the business sector to continue taking advantage of Jwaneng’s strategic location along the TKC to invest in developments that could have a long-lasting impact on the local communities and contribute to the national economic diversification aspirations. ENDS