Africa-Press – Botswana. There are a number of expansion projects being undertaken across the country to sustain the mining industry.
Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee meeting on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals and Energy, Ms Ellen Richard-Madisa said the projects included the Jwaneng Mine Cut 9 Project, Orapa Mine Cut 3 and Karowe underground, which were all at different stages of development.
“These projects will increase the life of these mines,” she said.
Furthermore, Ms Richard-Madisa told the PAC that Debswana Diamond Company produced more than 24 143 million and sold 24 138 million carats of diamonds in 2022 as compared to 22 327 million and 22 740 million carats of diamonds produced and sold respectively in 2021.
She also said the Ministry of Minerals and Energy continued to manage government’s investment interest in the local, regional and international minerals space to ensure optimal financial and economic returns for Botswana.
“In particular, our ministry is entrusted with ensuring that diamond sales and valuation services remain relevant by providing government with regular market intelligence data and information in order to reduce dependence on data and information produced by third parties,” she said.
Regarding rough diamond sales, she said they declined in the first quarter of 2023 as compared to last year.
“There has been a slow demand for rough diamonds worldwide,” she said, adding however that the global diamond market was expected to undergo significant changes in the coming years, with several predictions pointing to shifts in the way diamonds were sourced, marketed, and sold.
She said that the rise of digital technology would significantly transform the way diamonds are marketed and sold.
Ms Richard-Madisa stated that the supply of sustainable energy products and services remained an important ingredient in the socio-economic development of any country including Botswana.
The PAC learnt from the Accounting Officer that several key initiatives within the power sector were undertaken by the ministry to ensure the country was self-sufficient as far as power supply was concerned.
“Negotiations with Jindal Energy Botswana for 300MW coal power plant Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was completed by April, whilst the draft final PPA is currently being refined for signing.
Procurement of 200MW concentrated solar thermal power station is at tender stage,” she said.
The PAC chairperson, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, advised the Ministry of Minerals and Energy to come up with strategies to help people struggling to connect power due to technological issues.
He also said it had been more than 10 years since the four units at the Morupule B coal mine had been reported not to be functioning well and urged the ministry to come up with ways of fixing the problem once and for all.
He also urged the ministry to always offer public education about itself, especially for those who want to venture into the mining industry.
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