Africa-Press – Botswana. Government is committed to ensuring value creation and citizen empowerment in the mining industry. Welcoming Khoemacau Copper Mining senior management during a courtesy call at Office of the President on April 17, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi emphasised the importance of adding value to minerals before exporting them, as this could generate additional revenue and create more job opportunities for locals in the mining sector.
The President highlighted the government’s intention to further benefit from its mineral resources by promoting value addition and fostering partnerships with the private sector to ensure timely development and skills transfer.
Dr Masisi highlighted Botswana’s track record in resource management and the policies that attract foreign direct investment and the country’s commitment to enabling citizen participation in the minerals industry as well as utilising resources to bolster other sectors of the economy.
“Botswana has a strong record in managing her resources backed by government policies,” he said.
The President expressed optimism about the future of Botswana’s copper industry and encouraged Khoemacau mine management to engage in skills transfer with the local workforce.
He welcomed the acquisition of Khoemacau mine by the MMG group, a major shareholder being China Minmetals Corporation, citing the strong policies on human and social empowerment in China that Botswana could learn from.
President Masisi envisioned a promising partnership between Botswana and China through this acquisition.
“China has very strong policies on human social empowerment that Botswana can learn from, and it is therefore very pleasing that the mine has been acquired by a Chinese investment group,” he said.
The MMG chairperson, Mr Xu Jiqing outlined plans to double Khoemacau’s production and elevate it to become one of the top high-grade copper operations in Africa.
He emphasised leveraging existing infrastructure and mining methods to boost production capacity, aiming to position the company among the world’s top six copper mining giants. This growth strategy is expected to bring significant economic benefits to Botswana, along with increased job opportunities for locals.
To achieve the expansion, Mr Xu said the mine would conduct a feasibility study which would identify exploration opportunities across its license area. Khoemacau mine, located in north-west Botswana in the Kgalagadi copper belt, currently employs over 1 500 people with 95 per cent of them being Batswana.
It is one of the largest copper sedimentary systems in the world outside of the Central African Copper belt.
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