BCM engages consultant on oil, chemical disposal
Chakalisa Dube | Thursday January 9, 2014 15:38


The plant, which will specifically be for the BCM members, is to be constructed at a plot owned by the organisation near the Francistown City Council (FCC) landfill.
“We have identified a new consultant who is scheduled to begin the feasibility study sometime next month as agreed in principle.
“I cannot divulge the identity of the consultant or other details about the project because of a confidentiality clause we have with the consultant,” BCM chief executive officer Charles Siwawa told Mmegi yesterday.
The feasibility study is expected to guide the BCM as to how much it should invest on the plant and how the facility will be managed.
“The study will also shed light on what we should expect from the plant and help us determine if the project is viable,” he added. The feasibility study is expected to take slightly over a month to complete, according to Siwawa.
After the study an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study, which will take six months to complete, will be undertaken before paving way for the construction of the plant, he added.
“The EIA study will be conducted if the feasibility study tells us that the project is viable. I am optimistic that the feasibility study will come out positive,” he said.
The BCM is also in talks with some unnamed stakeholders with a view of sourcing funds from them to build the plant after the feasibility and EIA studies have been completed, he revealed.
Should it be built the plant will be the first of its kind in Botswana.
Used chemicals and oils from mines are mostly disposed of in neighbouring South Africa, which is financially draining and a time consuming exercise, according to some local mining pundits.
The BCM first announced plans to build the plant in July last year. Construction of the plant could have started last year in October, but the feasibility study and subsequent EIA study had to be shelved following a disagreement over fees with a consultant the organisation had intended to engage.
The BCM is an NGO funded by mines that are its members. The organisation represents the interests and needs of the mining industry in Botswana.