World Bank VP commends Jwaneng Mine
Lebogang Baingapi | Friday May 19, 2017 12:16
Diop revealed in an interview after touring Jwaneng Mine that the mine has been successful and consistent in producing diamonds even during trying times of recession.
He said management has been able to create a conducive environment for productivity and he was impressed with their achievements.
“Botswana has managed to uphold good governance and managed properties and assets of the biggest diamond mine. I am impressed that even during the economic meltdown, the mine did not close down and the government of Botswana led by example,” Diop said.
He added that the mine was ran by executives of high quality who believe in benchmarking to improve on their services. He was also of the view that the mine has also managed to survive because of the low corruption rate in the country.
The mine’s general manager, Albert Milton highlighted that Jwaneng Mine employs a total of 5,000 people of which 21% are women and two percent are expatriates.
He said they source 98% of their labour locally and they believe in benchmarking from other mines outside Botswana and they also allow themselves to host visitors who would like to benchmark from Jwaneng Mine.
“We currently spend close to P50 million per annum to service approximately 30,000 patients at the mine hospital who come from Jwaneng and surrounding villages.
We were also the first company to provide its employees with free antiretroviral drugs since 2001 and we spend P17 million every year on those drugs,” Milton said.
He added that the visit by the World Bank VP presented an opportunity for them to appreciate Jwaneng Mine as the stakeholders.
Milton emphasised that the delegation also had time to see the good factors that have sustained the mine which include good governance, democracy and good management of assets.