BCL embarks on grand diversification drive
Onalenna Kelebeile | Tuesday August 5, 2014 13:59
This is in line with the company’s efforts to transform the mine into a regional metallurgical hub. The company is also exploring iron deposits while plans are also underway to establish a sulphuric acid plant and a coal-to-liquid project.
During a press conference last week, the mine’s divisional manager for corporate strategy, Mack William, said the BCL smelter, which is the largest in southern Africa, is a strategic advantage and the mine intends to maximise on its potential. “We are looking for concentrates from surrounding countries to process here. That will likely turn BCL into a metallurgical hub. We anchor on the smelter, it has to be modernised so that it continues to be relevant to the nickel concentrates around Africa,” he explained.
BCL operates the copper/nickel smelter with a capacity of approximately 900,000 tonnes per annum, with the matte from the smelting process sold under long term contracts. The smelting and metallurgical facility has a replacement value of approximately US$3 billion (P26 billion).
William further said that that they are also considering pursuing opportunistic acquisitions and toll-treating opportunities for medium and long-term exploration. He added that they have observed that there is a lot of copper from the northwest of Botswana.
There are also plans to develop an iron production circuit in Mahalapye. “We are developing a coal production and beneficiation circuit aimed at positioning the energy space. A feasibility study is ongoing to convert coal into liquid. These are some of the key themes of the Polaris 11 strategy that is already starting to deliver,” he said.
BCL board chairman Dr Akolang Tombale noted that work is underway to re-scope the essential requisite design issues, technical improvements and work packages, which will be effected to result in the refurbishment and modernisation of the smelter.
He added that the smelter is currently in its 10th year of the 7th furnace campaign life and is due for a major technical overhaul which is planned for 65 days in July next year.
“With the current and future technological developments and improvements in the process efficiencies in the BCL smelter, coupled with synergistic acquisition of adjacent and remote prospective nickel mining rights and sourcing of toll concentrates, we intend to position the BCL smelter as a premier nickel tolling facility in Africa,” he said. Tombale added that they have made significant progress on the development of the iron production circuit through the establishment of Pula Steel Casting and Manufacturing plant, which is expected to be operational early next year.
He said the current exploration work that commenced in 2012 under Polaris 11 is aimed at increasing and diversifying BCL’s mineral resource base in the southern African region.
BCL has jointly ventured with companies holding prospective exploration ground within 100 kilometer of the mine such as Botswana Metals Limited, Copper and Silver Deposit, Discovery Metals Limited, Japan Oil, and Gas and Metals National Corporation.
Tombale said BCL company operation is also pursuing potential nickel copper prospects within 100 kilometers from the mine as evidenced by the green fields exploration for nickel and copper that is underway in Lechana, Phikwe North East and Bolau.
“We employed this strategy to ensure the sustainability and growth of the company. There are plans to extend BCL’s areas of nickel exploration further south, through acquisitions and joint venture partnerships,” he noted.