Africa-Press – Botswana. The exploration of mining opportunities is a promising development for Botswana, potentially leading to local beneficiation, US Ambassador to Botswana Mr Howard Van Vranken stated during a visit to the Kgwakgwe Hill battery manganese project in Kanye.
Ambassador Van Vranken expressed enthusiasm for Botswana’s mining initiatives, particularly the country’s efforts to bring manganese minerals to the global market. “I’m thrilled to be here at inception,” he remarked, highlighting the positive collaboration between the US and Botswana in advancing such mining projects.
The Kgwakgwe project, spearheaded by Canadian mineral resource development company Giyani Metals, will produce high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate. The initiative is expected to become one of the largest vertically integrated manganese projects in the world.
Giyani Metals, country manager, Ms Elisa Modikwa thanked the US government for its support in enhancing private sector economic participation. She noted that the US had facilitated introductions to various stakeholders to explore investment opportunities critical to the project’s success.
Ms Modikwa emphasised that the US was one of the countries that required raw materials for its industries and expressed interest in Botswana’s capacity to produce high-quality manganese.
She explained that the entire ecosystem for manganese production, from raw material to battery product, would be anchored in Kanye, featuring a processing plant for batteries on site.
Furthermore, she revealed that a land lease agreement with the Kanye sub-Land Board would be effective for 25 years.
During the construction phase, the project is anticipated to create between 300 and 350 jobs, with operational employment expected to range from 200 to 250 positions.
Recruitment will be an ongoing process as different phases of the project unfold. “Even now, as the project progresses, we need staff, and we have recently advertised positions. We have appointed a finance manager who will begin next month,” Ms Modikwa stated.
The project is set within a 438 km2 licensed area that encompasses multiple tenements and spans an impressive 1 960 km2. Menzi Battery Metals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Giyani, holds the license for this ambitious initiative.
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