Job cuts loom as Lerala halts mining

In limbo: Lerala has stopped pit mining due to constrained capacity at processing plant
In limbo: Lerala has stopped pit mining due to constrained capacity at processing plant

Just when the nation is still grappling with the abrupt closure and placement of BCL and Tati mines under provisional liquidation, further job cuts are looming in the sector as Lerala Diamond Mine (LDM) has announced halting of mining operations.

The news of the temporary cessation of all pit operations at LDM possibly for three to four months was broken this week by the project manager at Basil Read Mining Botswana (BRMB), the company contracted to conduct mining operations at Lerala.

A letter authored by the BRMB project manager, Gabriel Monyatsi in Lerala to all heads of departments and section heads and all Basil Read employees reads in part: “The company received a letter from LDM authorities informing it that the ramp up in production has been significantly slower than was planned due to the inability of the plant to process head feed at the desired rate.

Editor's Comment
FMD crisis: We must fight as one

That should concern every Motswana. The implications extend far beyond cattle and farmers. Botswana’s beef industry is a critical pillar of the economy, supporting thousands of households and sustaining businesses along the value chain.The loss of access to lucrative export markets has already demonstrated how quickly an animal-health crisis can become an economic crisis.This is, therefore, not the time for complacency, blame, or political...

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