mmegi

Canadian firm, BITRI in P1.2bn deal for battery minerals

Widely popular: Analysts expect demand for copper and nickel to increasingly come from electric vehicles and their batteries PIC: JOEL-T_ISTOCK
Widely popular: Analysts expect demand for copper and nickel to increasingly come from electric vehicles and their batteries PIC: JOEL-T_ISTOCK

The Botswana Institute for Technology, Research and Innovation (BITRI) is set to sign a partnership deal with a Canadian firm on a C$129 million (P1.2 billion) project, which will extract minerals for the development of batteries used in electric vehicles and other low-carbon innovations.

The deal involves BITRI and Process Research Ortech (PRO) partnering to bring in funders for an as-yet-unnamed copper and nickel mine where minerals will be extracted for the development of batteries, which are increasingly required in the green energy transition.

The partnership was unveiled recently at the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Rwanda, with Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau later releasing a statement hailing the collaboration.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up