Khoemacau Mine revives copper mining

• New Mine set to produce 3.65 million tonnes annually • Copper production to boosts local mining sector • Govt, Khoemacau invested a total of P12 billion

STRIDES WRITER

Botswana’s Khoemacau Copper Mine, is revitalizing the mining of copper as it targets to produce 3.65 million tonnes per annum as the country diversifies away from diamonds.

Khoemacau Mine opened doors in July as a result of the Public-Private -Partnership between the Government of Botswana and Khoemacau Mine, contributing P2 billion and P10 billion respectively.

Taking the media on the mine operations, Plant Country Manager Mompati Babusi said the mine is presently producing the highest grade of copper in South Africa to be exported on weekly basis.

He said the mine is anticipating to increase its operations or activities to full output through 2021.

“As of July, the total ore produced is 429 kilotonnes while a total of 111 kilotonnes of ore was crushed and 3,765 tonnes of copper/silver concentrate producing 1,293 tonnes of contained copper, which equals 34.4% copper concentrate. The mine production has increased with the expansion of Zone 5 and new mine development at Mango NE, NE and Zone 5 North. The Processing capacity has increased from 3.65 million tonnes per annum to an approximately eight million tonnes per annum due to the construction of a new concentrator at Zone 5,” he said. Khoemacau has the capacity to produce 155,000 to 165,000 tonnes of high-grade copper and silver concentrate a year, containing approximately 60,000 to 65,000 tonnes of payable copper and 1.8 to two million ounces of payable silver and expects to achieve this production rate in 2022.

According to the company, the mining and construction workforce onsite peaked at more than 2,300 in late March with more than 92% Batswana employed in the mining, construction and operations teams.

Meanwhile, President Mokgweetsi Masisi reiterated Khoemacau full support from the government.

“Government will support the Mining Industry through infrastructure development which includes; cross-border railways, roads across the country; electricity infrastructure; and major water transfer schemes. Let me categorically state that I am leading a result- oriented Government that will make sure that our promises become a reality. When I launched the North West Transmission Grid at Mawana, near Maun in April 2021 – another successful initiative, I highlighted that the electricity grid connection will bring with it economic opportunities to the Ngamiland region,” said Masisi officially opening mine.

Masisi said the Grid Connection is benefitting Khoemacau making the Mine a viable and the sustainable business enterprise adding that Government of Botswana and Khoemacau Mine. Government has invested over two billion Pula whilst Khoemacau has invested more than ten billion Pula (P10 billion), in this important project which will contribute significantly to growth of the economy.

“I recently announced that we should revisit our problem- solving strategies; that we regroup; that we reset in order to deliver the promises we made to Batswana in 2019. The Value chain development which encompasses citizen economic empowerment is one of the priorities under the Reset Agenda as they will unlock opportunities for the newer, high-growth companies in the private sector and create youth employment among other citizen empowerment attributes,” he added.

Botswana stopped copper production in 2016 when the Selebi Phikwe BCL mine ceased operations.

With the Khoemacau mine on board, it is anticipated that it will give glimpse on copper mining.