African Copper gets Thakadu licence

African Copper, which currently operates Mowana Mine about 80 kilometres from Thakadu in the north-eastern Botswana, announced on Tuesday that it had received the mining licence for Thakadu, allowing the way to start commercial mining operations with production expected to start ramping up in line with the company's long-term strategy within the next two months. However, the approved mine lease area contains an archaeological site which the government wants mined through underground processes, but all other areas may be mined by open-pit.

"The mining licence has been granted on condition that the area declared as an archaeological site is restricted to underground mining processes so as to avoid disturbing the archaeological site contained within the approved mine lease area," the company said in statement.