BCL non-core assets can support economic diversification -SPEDU

Onalenna Kelebeile | Friday April 25, 2014 12:29

 

It suggests that BCL mine has sufficient non-core assets that can be utilised to support economic diversification.

Speaking during a recent stakeholders’ workshop that finalised the draft Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS), Kedisitse said the assets included auto and locomotive workshops, shafts and others.

But he added that BCL would need to approve the recommendations.

He suggested that setting up a mine museum would be a very unique undertaking because there is already a shaft at BCL mine.

“We even went to South Africa for benchmarking on this one,” he said.  He further said that funds have been approved for Platjan Bridge construction.

Funds from the re-employment account will be used to construct the bridge.

Kedisitse added that they are just waiting for Botswana and South Africa to sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

Other studies were conducted in the horticulture and tourism sectors where the horticulture study recommended that a sorting, washing, packaging and processing plant be set up.

The study also recommended a more favourable funding arrangement for the sector’s producers –  through CEDA.

SPEDU caretaker CEO Jowitt Mbongwe said the REDS’ strategic objective is to intensify mineral exploration and beneficiation in the region.  He added that the SPEDU region has an advantage because BCL mine has the capacity.

He added that a lot of activities were already ongoing and that the aim was to expand and diversify the industrial base of the region.

“It also aims to develop the town into a fresh, healthy and attractive city as well as improve accessibility and connectivity of the region,” he added.

BCL mine’s exploration manager Sofelani Mongezi said through the Polaris 11 strategy, BCL looks at anything in the mining industry.

He added that Botswana has a lot of mineral potential that the mine wanted to take advantage of.  He further added that it was crucial for the mine to restructure and start on a clear balance sheet so that it becomes debt-free to enhance its opportunities of acquiring funds.

-       Mongezi added that big themes of Polaris 11 are to expand and sustain nickel production circuit, copper production circuit, beneficiation circuit, develop chemical and the by-products production circuit.  They will also develop a precious metals and other minerals circuit.