EIA delays Phikwe projects � Nzwaligwa
Onalenna Kelebeile | Friday September 29, 2017 11:00
Speaking during a general meeting for ex BCL Mine employees, Nzwaligwa said the country is stuck because of the EIA. He cited that Selebi-Phikwe has been waiting for the establishment of a pharmaceutical company, but 15 months have passed and EIA is blamed for the delay.
He said in other countries, it takes only a week for such to be approved so that a company can set-up and said this is the reason why potential investors end up setting up elsewhere. “Do something as a nation. Talk to government because if you do not talk nothing will move for Selebi-Phikwe”.
He said this in the wake of the fact that many projects expected to set-up here to revive the economy have been delayed by the EIA, before and after the closure of BCL Mine last year. EIA is necessary for protecting the environment by ensuring that the public is given early and effective opportunities to participate in the decision-making processes with the aim of protecting the environment.
SPEDU official, Theodore Seemule told the gathering that the economic revitalisation strategy of Selebi-Phikwe and surrounding villages was approved by the government to facilitate the creation of 7,000 jobs in a period of five years. He added that though it is everybody’s dream to see tangible projects setting up, there are processes that have to be followed before implementation.
He noted that the strategy includes a number of projects categorised into agricultural production and processing as well as tourism related services andmanufacturing.
Seemule added that one of the projects coming is the aircraft assembly plant whose Memorandum of Understanding was signed last month. The project is anticipated to produce 5,000 jobs in five years.
He said the project is currently undergoing the EIA that takes time to complete, adding that the pharmaceutical company commenced the EIA last year and is expected to be completed next month. The project is expected to create 900 jobs.
The gas plant is also delayed by the EIA that started in October last year and is not yet complete.
Seemule added that some companies have already occupied the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) factory shells to start operating soon. He added that they continue to negotiate with potential investors to set up in here. Seemule stated that incentives meant to attract investors to Selebi-Phikwe includes five percent corporate tax for the first five years and 10 percent corporate tax thereafter. In line with the SACU provisions, investors will not be charged customs duty and tax on imported raw materials, he said.
He further said that there is also direct government off-take on procurement of at least 30 percent. He was happy that so far 70 percent of farm owners along Motloutse River have applied for electricity connection to benefit from the 44 kilometer Motloutse farm electrification project.
Seemule said they have realized that creating a one stop shop would reduce the length of the EIA process and urged the community to cooperate whenever their input is needed in order to speed up the process.