Debswana extends CEEP to manufacturing
Staff Writer | Tuesday June 3, 2025 10:01
This follows internal studies which revealed that many of the inputs used by the company’s mines are still being sourced from neighboring countries, particularly South Africa- pointing to untapped opportunities for local production.
Wanetsha Moakufi, Debswana’s Head of CEEP shared the development recently at a capital raising meeting organized by Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) emphasizing that the company sees manufacturing as the next frontier in its efforts to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
“There are significant opportunities that remain underexploited,” Moakufi said, “especially in areas like lubricants and explosives, which are essential to our operations but still largely imported”
This renewed focus comes on the backdrop of a major milestone for Debswana’s CEEP, which was launched in 2019 with the goal of injecting P20 billion into the local economy by 2024.
As of this year, the programme has already exceeded expectations, channeling an impressive P23.4 billion into citizen-owned businesses. The achievement underlines the mining giant’s commitment to building local capacity and transforming Botswana’s economic landscape.
Now, with the procurement data painting a clear picture of continued reliance on foreign suppliers, Debswana is preparing to pivot toward encouraging and enabling local manufacturing. The new push will center around facilitating the establishment of local manufacturing capabilities for high-demand items such as lubricants and explosives, creating new industrial linkages and potentially hundreds of jobs.
In addition, Moakufi disclosed that the company is also in latter stages of setting up a repairs factory, which would support the maintenance and refurbishment of equipment used in mining operations. The aim is to reduce downtime and costs associated with shipping machinery components abroad for repairs, while also empowering local technicians and engineers.
The diamond company had previously revealed that it had issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) inviting bids for partnerships in the development of a national Repair and Rebuild Centre. It has also engaged other mining companies to support the project by committing portions of their repair and maintenance needs to the facility. The envisaged collaboration is expected to strengthen local capacity and ensure sustainability in the mining sector. Minerals and Energy minister, Bogolo Kenewendo in the past revealed that Debswana’s commitment to enhancing local value chains is centred on two key initiatives. These are local manufacturing depot and the Repair and Rebuild Centre.
Addressing Parliament recently, she said the mining giant has partnered with the Botswana Chamber of Mines (BCM) to drive local manufacturing in the mining industry at a national level. The initiative involves close collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), SPEDU and financial institutions. 'As part of this effort, Debswana has actively created market opportunities for locally manufactured products,' Kenewendo said.
The minister added that some of the key achievements include engaging 34 Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) from across the country to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to Debswana mines. By the end of 2024, the engaged SMMEs had secured orders worth P34 million and in the process supporting 700 jobs. Another supplier was of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes that are manufactured in Taung, near Ramotswa, valued at P42 million and creating 50 jobs.
With a strong track record now established under CEEP and a clear roadmap ahead, Debswana’s expansion into manufacturing signals a bold next chapter—one that could reshape Botswana’s industrial capacity and deepen the local impact of the country’s most valuable natural resource.
The CEEP programme is primarily aimed at increasing citizen inclusion within the company’s supply chain by creating an enabling business environment, supporting citizen entities and preferential procurement with the objective of creating employment and diversifying the economy.
To operationalise and ensure citizen companies’ participation, Debswana has entered partnerships with various financial institutions to avail necessary credit to local bidders to deliver on their supplies. These include leading bankers such as First National Bank Botswana, Absa, Standard Chartered Bank Botswana, Stanbic Bank, Access Bank, Bank Gaborone, National Development Bank, and Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA).