Selebi-Phikwe emerges as industrial transformation centre
Pauline Dikuelo | Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:10
The mineral-rich nation is making efforts to reposition herself from a resource-exporting economy to a competitive industrial and manufacturing hub. This strategic shift was reinforced at a recent Second Metallurgy Hub Consultative Forum held in Selebi-Phikwe, which underscored Botswana’s determination to unlock value from its mineral wealth through beneficiation, industrialisation and innovation-led growth. Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Baratiwa Mathoothe, said the country possesses significant strategic minerals, including copper, nickel, manganese, graphite, cobalt and lithium-linked resources. “These materials are critical inputs in battery technologies, electric vehicle systems, and clean energy infrastructure, positioning Botswana favourably within the global energy transition,” he said when speaking at the forum on Friday.
The event, which builds on earlier engagements held in October 2025 under the theme “Unlocking the Potential of Metallurgy for Electric Vehicle and Parts Manufacturing,” produced key outcomes that continue to guide Botswana’s industrial agenda. Central to these outcomes is the establishment of a fully integrated Metallurgical and Electric Mobility Hub anchored in Selebi-Phikwe. Mathoothe added that the vision goes beyond raw mineral extraction and envisions a complete industrial ecosystem where Botswana processes minerals, manufactures components, assembles vehicles, develops battery systems, trains technical expertise, commercialises innovation, and exports high-value products to regional and global markets.
According to the assistant minister, a significant milestone in advancing this vision is the formal establishment of eMobility Botswana (Pty) Ltd, a 100% state-owned company mandated to anchor Botswana’s transition into electric mobility and green industrialisation. The entity now serves as the national coordinating institution for the Electric Vehicle Hub and industrial scale-up programme, marking a decisive shift from planning to execution. “eMobility Botswana is not merely an automotive initiative. It is a strategic industrial platform designed to drive manufacturing expansion, facilitate technology transfer, strengthen skills development, enhance beneficiation, and improve Botswana’s regional export competitiveness,” he said. “Its establishment signals that electric mobility is no longer a future aspiration but an active industrial reality.” The transformation extends far beyond vehicle assembly as the proposed Phikwe EV and Metallurgy Hub is linked to advanced strategic engagements estimated at over P10.5 billion in private sector investment. This includes the development of a broader eMobility Smart City ecosystem comprising charging infrastructure, battery storage systems, renewable energy integration, solar-powered charging solutions, smart industrial infrastructure, data centre capacity, skills development institutions, and localised manufacturing supply chains.
Additionally, the Second Metallurgy Hub Consultative Forum emphasised the need to move from conceptual alignment to full-scale industrial implementation. Key focus areas include beneficiation strategies, development of local supply chains, manufacturing incentives, industrial infrastructure expansion, research commercialisation, and strengthened skills development and enterprise participation. Mathoothe said this reflects a critical understanding that modern industrial economies are built not merely on resources, but on integrated ecosystems of innovation, manufacturing, logistics, finance, skills, and technology. Globally, the transition toward electric mobility is accelerating, and countries that act decisively are expected to lead future industrial markets. Botswana’s strategy therefore extends beyond vehicle production to include battery precursor materials, battery recycling, powder metallurgy, fabrication technologies, industrial gases, charging infrastructure, software integration, and the development of new citizen-driven enterprises within these value chains. The initial phase is expected to generate between 1,000 and 2,600 direct and indirect jobs across manufacturing, engineering, logistics, renewable energy systems, maintenance, and technical services.
Government fleet electrification is already underway, charging infrastructure investors are preparing to deploy, and electric public transport systems are increasingly within reach. Broader economic benefits include reduced fuel imports, lower transport costs, new industrial exports, expanded regional market access under SADC and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and increased participation of local small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) within industrial value chains.