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Botswana Mining

Botswana continues to value exploration activity, mining

By: Simone Liedtke 26th May 2017 Exploration for minerals in diamond-dependent Botswana continues despite the tough economic conditions its mining industry faces, which has impacted negatively on the country’s economic health, says mining and exploration organisation Botswana Chamber of Mines CEO Charles Siwawa. These minerals,... →

Botswana business expected to ‘flourish’

By: Simone Liedtke 26th May 2017 Mineral processing equipment solutions provider Multotec aims to find a balance between initiatives that drives localisation and benefits communities in Botswana, and the advantages associated with international connections, following the relaunch of the fully-fledged Botswana-registered and... →

CUSTOMER SERVICE Multotec field service teams are based on-site at key customers in Botswana

Botswana receives load bank system order

By: Simone Liedtke 26th May 2017 The first load bank system from power-generating brand supplier Vert Energy – the Southern Africa distributor of Asco power switching and control components – was supplied to private equity company Peter Investments, in Botswana, last month. →

SECURING SUPPLY Vert Energy plays a role in providing dependable power to companies, even in Africa’s most remote countries – such as Botswana

Govt continues to encourage investment beyond diamonds

By: Simone Liedtke 26th May 2017 Botswana's mining industry will see steady value growth as government continues its efforts to diversify away from the diamond sector, encouraging foreign investment, particularly in coal projects, says industry analyst BMI Research, a Fitch Group company. →

STEADY AS SHE GOES Government's efforts to develop Botswana’s coal mining sector are also expected to yield steady progress

Geologists, mineralogists exploring new Botswana licences

By: Simone Liedtke 26th May 2017 A second fieldwork programme at the six new prospecting licences (PLs) in Botswana awarded to the Sunland Minerals joint venture (JV), including initial sampling and geophysics, is planned for September 2017. →

Botswana to adopt Canadian model of sustainability

26th May 2017 A Canadian model aimed at improving the sustainability of mining through environmental and community outreach practices is being introduced in Botswana, says mining networking platform African Mining Network (AMN) chairperson Yolanda Torrisi. →

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT TSM requires miners to continuously assess their mining practices and report them to the community

Diamond recovery projects scheduled for Q3 completion

26th May 2017 Canadian diamond producer Lucara Diamond’s capital expenditure for 2017 is forecast at between $33-million and $35-million, and will largely fund the completion of its mega diamond recovery (MDR) and X-ray transmission (XRT) projects at the Karowe mine, in Botswana. →

Botswana agency to support installed base, new projects

By: Simone Liedtke 26th May 2017 Key mining, materials handling and minerals processing equipment supplier Takraf Africa – part of the global Tenova Takraf group – has appointed engineering service agency Etuba Engineeringits agent in Botswana. Takraf Africa engineered technologies GM Richard Späth tells Mining Weekly that the... →

PROMOTING UPTAKE Etuba will market the full range of Takraf Africa’s mining, materials handling, dust control, comminution and Delkor solid/liquid separation equipment

‘Attractive’ copper project advances on back of $50m loan

By: Simone Liedtke 26th May 2017 Copper miner Cupric Canyon Capital has secured $50-million to develop its Khoemacau underground mine in north-west Botswana and bring the copper-silver project into production. →

Photo by Bloomberg
OUTPUT OUTLOOK The first shipment of the red metal to markets is expected in 2019

Mineral scanner to facilitate identification of reactive ground

26th May 2017 In another step towards safer blasting practice, Johannesburg-headquartered explosives and services supplier BME is adapting its XRF Delta Pro mineral scanner to quickly identify reactive-ground conditions that could lead to blast site incidents. “This can give us real-time information that... →

Chamber remains bullish on economy’s mainstay industry

By: Nadine James 19th February 2016 Stakeholders in the mining industry should be assured by the knowledge that commodity prices are cyclical and, though some caution is necessary, commitment to the development of Botswana’s mining assets will ensure that the industry survives the temporary downturn in commodity prices, says... →

CHARLES SIWAWA The Botswana Chamber of Mine CEO says there is great potential for growth in base metals and coal

Diamonds will remain sought after regardless of economic trends

By: Nadine James 19th February 2016 Although diamond demand is not immune to global economic trends, such as the slowed growth in China that resulted in a collapse in commodity prices, Aim-listed diamond exploration company Botswana Diamonds (BOD) executive chairperson John Teeling is still optimistic about long-term demand. “You... →

JOHN TEELING Botswana Diamonds executive chair says that despite recent economic trends, more people are entering the middle class,increasing the demand for jewellery, and thus diamonds

Prospecting licence granted for mining project

19th February 2016 Botswana’s Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources (MMEWR) has granted metals mining company Mount Burgess Botswana (MBB) – a wholly-owned subsidiary of Australian-listed resource development company Mount Burgess Mining (MBM) – a new prospecting licence (PL) over the Kihabe... →

ZINC SMELTING While the Kihabe project is still in its infancy, the proposal relating to local beneficiation suggests that the project is definitely viable

Renewed interest in coal could expand Botswana’s mining revenue

By: Nadine James 19th February 2016 The Botswanan government is expected to dedicate more resources to the development of its coal sector to diversify its mining revenue and meet its energy imperatives, says mining consultancy Core Consultants MD Lara Smith. This is attributed to a decreased global demand for diamonds – Botswana’s... →

UNTAPPED POTENTIAL Botswana has the second largest coal reserves in Africa, but only one operational coal mine, the Morupule mine in eastern Botswana

Photo by Duane Daws
UNTAPPED POTENTIAL Botswana has the second largest coal reserves in Africa, but only one operational coal mine, the Morupule mine in eastern Botswana

Coal-to-power project ready for bid submission

19th February 2016 Energy company Shumba Energy (SE) has made significant progress on its Mabesekwa Export Independent Power Plant (MEIPP) project, which will be ready for bid submission by mid-2016. The project is located in the Mabesekwa village in Botswana’s Central District. Shumba has started with the bankable... →

GOING FOR COAL Shumba Energy hopes that its coal-to-power project wins preferred bidder status in the independent power procurement bids

High-tech solution for Letlhakane tailings project

19th February 2016 The contract to supply voltage equipment and automation solutions for Debswana’s Letlhakane Mine Tailings Resource Treatment Project (LMTRTP) has been awarded to industrial automation and information provider Rockwell Automation (RA). The P2.2-billion LMTRTP is meant to safeguard jobs at diamond... →

Photo by Duane Daws
TIDINGS ABOUT TAILINGS Debswana's Letlhakane mine will be retreating its tailings with some help from Rockwell Automation

Diamond conference returns to Botswana

19th February 2016 Botswana will host the Diamonds Still Sparkling Conference, for the second time in six years. The sixth in a series of triennial diamond conferences, Diamonds Still Sparkling 2016 will be held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre, and targets the full spectrum of the diamond pipeline,... →

Photo by Bloomberg
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER The Diamonds Still Sparkling Conference will reiterate that fact

First phase of exploration on copper/silver project starts

19th February 2016 Australian-listed metals miner MOD Resources last month announced that Phase 1 exploration had started at its Botswana copper/silver project, which is located in the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB) – a region where MOD has various interests in licences covering an area of about 12 000 km2. The... →

DRILL TIME Exploration on MOD's project in the Kalahari Copper Belt started in earnest in January

Diamond miner willing to fork out for exploration project

19th February 2016 According to Africa-focused diamond miner Petra Diamonds’ 2015 annual report, exploration expenditure increased from $2.8-million in 2014 to $5.7-million last year, owing to the programme under way at the KX36 project in Botswana. This included the costs to relocate and commission the bulk... →

AEROMAGNETIC SURVEYING The first phase of exploration on KX36 concluded early last year

Prefeasibility results could deliver significant catalyst

19th February 2016 Australian-listed metals miner Botswana Metals Limited (BML) expects to boost its share price on the back of a possible resource upgrade, following the release of the results of its prefeasibility study (PFS) on the Maibele North nickel project, located in Botswana’s Central District. The PFS... →

NOT A NICKEL-AND-DIME OPERATION Botswana Metals Limited expects that its Maibele North project will benefit from nickel price increases in the long term

Photo by Reuters
NOT A NICKEL-AND-DIME OPERATION Botswana Metals Limited expects that its Maibele North project will benefit from nickel price increases in the long term

Zone 5 copper project on track to meet production target date

By: Nadine James 19th February 2016 Botswana miner Khoemacau Copper Mining (KCM), a subsidiary of private-equity firm Cupric Canyon Capital (CCC), has completed the drilling phase of its Zone 5 feasibility study, which demonstrates the viability of mining and processing 10 000 t/d. Construction can start at the project, which... →

EXTREME MAKEOVER MILL EDITION Construction for the Boseto Mill's upgrades will start in 2017

Botswana has capacity to become bigger SADC player – conference organisers

20th February 2015 Despite its size and landlocked nature, Botswana does have the capacity to become a bigger player in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), particularly in the context of seemingly less stable economies around it, the organisers of Bauma Conexpo Africa say, adding that they are... →

Interest returns to known deposits, way paved for exploration

By: Mia Breytenbach 20th February 2015 The latest exploration boom in Botswana, although seemingly waning, has shifted the spotlight to several known deposits again, notes South African mining consultancy The MSA Group, stating that copper and nickel deposits were receiving particular attention. Recent high copper prices have resulted... →

RENEWED INTEREST
Recent high copper prices have resulted in the potential economic feasibility of lower-grade copper deposits in Botswana

Photo by Bloomberg
RENEWED INTEREST Recent high copper prices have resulted in the potential economic feasibility of lower-grade copper deposits in Botswana

New block on iron play targeted

By: Mia Breytenbach 20th February 2015 Junior miner, and Toronto-listed, Tsodilo Resources has moved into the next phase of its flagship Xaudum Iron Formation (XIF) project’s exploration programme, targeting Block 2 of the resource. The block is located to the south of Block 1 and is a larger area than Block 1, for which the company... →

EXPLORATION EVALUATION Tsodilo Resources has used the ground magnetic-intensity signature and inversion model, and drilling to locate areas of likely high-grade material at its Botswana iron play

Construction on Letlhakane tailings expansion to start soon

By: Mia Breytenbach 20th February 2015 Construction on Botswana-based diamond mining company Debswana’s Letlhakane tailings treatment plant expansion project is expected to start next month, with the facility scheduled to be handed over in the first quarter of 2017, Debswana head of corporate affairs Esther Kanaimba-Senai tells Mining... →

PILOT CONCEPT The Jwaneng modular tailings treatment plant is a first for Debswana in introducing and testing the modular concept in the group, with a possibility of implementing it at other operations

Diamond explorer shifts target focus areas, prioritises Orapa region

By: Mia Breytenbach 20th February 2015 Aim-listed diamond explorer Botswana Diamonds (BOD) has shifted its 2015 focus to three licence areas covering more than 1 000 km2 in the diamond province of Orapa, in Botswana. The three blocks currently receiving precedence comprise the PL206, PL207 and PL210 licence areas, BOD chairperson John... →

FOCUS SHIFT Botswana Diamonds and Alrosa defined a new 2015 exploration programme for the PL206, PL207 and PL210 licence areas in the Orapa region in Botswana

Equipment supplier secures diamond, copper and nickel sector contracts

By: Mia Breytenbach 20th February 2015 South Africa-based drilling equipment supplier Schwalbe Import & Export has obtained three significant contracts with Africa-based mining companies in Botswana, Schwalbe MD Jonathan Betsalel tells Mining Weekly, adding that the company aims to start supplying the products in March or April. “The... →

Reliable Transformers

20th February 2015 Ekurhuleni-based Reliable Transformers, which was established by HJ van Zyl more than 30 years ago, is now a major player in the African transformer market. Transformers, inductors, reactors and plasma cutting power units are some of the products designed and manufactured in-house at the... →

‘Moribund’ Botswana coal industry requires gentle approach – consultant

By: Mia Breytenbach 20th February 2015 With little or no coal mining exploration currently under way in Botswana, the industry has become “moribund”, says mining consultancy Analytika Holdings director Alan Golding. “While the Botswana coal mining industry has expanded to current production of about 3.5-million tons a year, the lack... →

LACKING VITALITY While the Botswana coal mining industry has expanded to current production of about 3.5-million tons a year, the lack of a significant market remains a key challenge

Botswana still auspicious mining jurisdiction

By: Mia Breytenbach 20th February 2015 Having ranked consistently as one of the top mining jurisdictions in Africa, Botswana remains a favourable mining destination for investment – despite current infrastructure challenges and the global economic downturn, mining consultancy Core Consultants MD Lara Smith tells Mining Weekly. She... →

AGAINST THE ODDS
Botswana remains an auspicious mining destination, despite current infrastructure and macroeconomic challenges

Photo by Reuters
AGAINST THE ODDS Botswana remains an auspicious mining destination, despite current infrastructure and macroeconomic challenges

MECK Projects & Engineering

21st February 2014 Johannesburg-based project management company MECK Projects & Engineering specialises in project management and implementation services for the resource, industrial and commercial sectors. MECK has worked on several projects across Africa, overseeing earthmoving workshops as well as the... →

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