The Projects Magazine

[Watch] Absa Bank Botswana's Head of Global Corporates, Thuso Tseetse, spoke with The Projects Magazine at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town South Africa  about the bank's transformational product offerings for the mining industry.

[Watch] Debswana Orapa , Letlhakane & Damtshaa Mines General Manager speaking about the company's investment in communities around its sphere of operation.

[𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵] CEO of Botswana Geoscience Institute Olefile Cisco Mashabila speaking about the need to tap into smaller mineral deposits and explore them for economic extraction.

Botswana President Duma Boko pictured with Africa’s richest man , business man & billionaire Industrialist Aliko Dangote at the ongoing AU meetings .

𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗗 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 𝗣𝗜𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝟭 𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧, 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗕𝗨𝗗𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝟯𝟰𝟬 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗢𝗡 - Started commercial production from the T3 pit in 2023 - Started mining ore from the second pit , A4 deposit in Dec 2024 - Now A1 deposit is the next line Sandfire Resources, the Australian mining company that operates the Motheo Copper Mine in Ghanzi, is moving swiftly to develop the A1 deposit, aiming to add a third open-pit mine to its ore feeder complex. The Motheo Copper Mine currently comprises the flagship T3 deposit, which was commissioned in August 2023, and the A4 deposit, which reached its ore mining milestone in December 2024. In an interview with The Projects Magazine this week, Sandfire Resources' Executive Head of Country for Botswana, Dale Burgess, revealed that following the official commencement of ore mining at the A4 deposit, the next asset to be developed will be the A1 deposit. The A1 Copper-Silver Deposit, located 20 km northeast of the Motheo Copper Mine, boasts 5.6 Mt at 1.3% Cu and 10 g/t Ag, equating to 73 kt of contained copper and 2 Moz of contained silver, according to a Maiden Mineral Resource released by Sandfire Resources in April 2024. According to Sandfire, this highlights the potential for the A1 Deposit to become an additional source of satellite ore feed for the Motheo Production Hub, complementing the A4 deposit, which is located just 8 km west of the processing facility. “The next pit in the pipeline for us is the A1 deposit. It's located approximately 20 kilometers from our processing plant. We’re well advanced in a feasibility study there and we're investing USD 15 million over the next two years for a drilling program, alongside various studies such as electrical studies, biodiversity studies, geotechnical studies, and more to understand the economics. We hope to bring that online in the next two years, which will augment the ore supply from the T3 and A4 deposits, giving us three pits feeding continuously into the crusher,” Dale Burgess told The Projects Magazine in an exclusive interview. Burgess also revealed that Sandfire will continue to invest in exploration around the Kalahari Copper Belt. “We will be aggressively exploring the Kalahari. We currently hold 15,000 square kilometers of exploration tenement, and it’s important to realize that the current reserve life is only around eight years. We’re working hard to replenish our depletions—each year, we deplete around 6 million tonnes of ore, so it’s vital to keep exploring. This year, we’ve increased our exploration budget to USD 25 million, and we’ll continue to invest aggressively to ensure we continue finding ore bodies, contributing to Botswana's economy, and creating employment,” he said.

[Watch] Olefile Cisco Mashabila, CEO of the Botswana Geoscience Institute (BGI), spoke to The Projects Magazine at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town about BGI's ongoing efforts and initiatives to facilitate mineral exploration in Botswana

𝗕𝗚𝗜 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗦 - Finding larger mines of the same scale as Debswana operations may become increasingly challenging. - Low-tier deposits can be economically viable and have a significant impact on the economy. - BGI is developing a small-scale mining strategy to support this shift Botswana Geoscience Institute (BGI) Chief Executive Officer Olefile Cisco Mashabila has urged explorers and investors to investigate low-tier mineral deposits, emphasizing their potential for economic development. Speaking to The Projects Magazine at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa, last week, Mashabila noted that exploration in Botswana has predominantly focused on top-tier deposits, which aim to develop large-scale mining operations. “Historically, especially in Botswana, we've concentrated on what we call Tier 1 deposits, such as the Debswana mines, including Orapa and Jwaneng, and the BCL mines, among others,” said Mashabila. “While this focus has been beneficial, it’s time for a shift. We need to move our attention to Tier 2 and even Tier 3 deposits. This shift in mindset is essential to transform the landscape of our mining sector.” Mashabila highlighted that investments have largely been directed toward top-tier, high-grade deposits. “We’ve seen investments primarily focused on Tier 1 deposits, but now it's time to mobilize resources toward Tier 2 and Tier 3 deposits. While large mines are still possible, they may not be as abundant as they once were. Therefore, we need to focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3, developing models to economically exploit them. The key is ensuring these projects break even and meet economic criteria for sustainability.” The BGI Chief also shared that the organization is working on a small-scale mining strategy. “We are developing a framework to support small-scale mining. Once we’ve refined the strategy, we will present it to our Minister, Honourable Kenewendo, to take it to the next level,” Mashabila explained. This framework will also facilitate the exploitation of Tier 2, Tier 3, and even lower-tier deposits. “While we’ve traditionally focused on Tier 1, we must now prioritize exploring and developing Tier 2 and Tier 3 deposits. These deposits may be smaller in size and have lower grades, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be mined economically,” he said. Mashabila further stressed the importance of acting now, warning that failing to exploit low-tier deposits today could render them unprofitable in the future. “If we don't start exploiting these deposits now, we might find that they won’t be economically viable later. The opportunity is here, and we must extract these resources profitably while we can.”

[Watch] We interviewed Dale Burgess Executive Head of Country for Botswana at Sandfire Resources, about the significant impact of the Motheo Copper Mine on the community of Ghanzi and the broader country. Dale shared insights into the advanced expansion into the A4 deposit, as well as the exploration work underway around the A1 deposit and the promising Kalahari region.

𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗦𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗔 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗦 𝗣𝟭𝟱𝟲 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗖𝗧 𝗨𝗣𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗦, 𝗘𝗬𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗢𝗥 In a bid to modernize the transport and logistics sector, Government has allocated P156 million for key railway projects, including the rehabilitation of the Limpopo Corridor and feasibility studies for new rail links. The government is also considering a self-funded mega-project to connect Namibia with Botswana’s western copper belt which may require legislative changes to optimize railway operations. This was announced by the Minister of Finance, Ndaba Gaolathe during the Budget Speech. He explained that “railway infrastructure forms the backbone of industrial and logistical operations as well as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable mode of transportation.” The sum will also be channeled towards Botswana Railway Workshop Equipment, and feasibility studies for Mmamabula – Lephalale and Mosetse- Kazungula Railway. “The 2025/2026 development budget is also inclusive of ICT projects such as Local Area Network upgrade, ICT equipment as well as Computerisation of Driver Tests.” Said Gaolathe. Futhermore, a self-funding mega-project plan for the building and development of a rail line between Namibia and Botswana's western copper-belt region through Ghantsi is presently being reviewed by the Administration. The Minister of Finance made note that” our existing rail infrastructure is neither adequate noup to standard, even so, not fully utilized or optimized.The Administration is considering options for a rail operational model best suited for our circumstances. All options being considered will require changes to the current legislation on the role of Botswana Railways.”

𝗣𝟮.𝟲𝟲 𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗕𝗨𝗗𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗟 𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗦𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗔’𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗬 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 The Ministry of Minerals and Energy has secured a transformative P2.66 billion development budget for 2025/2026, which will support solar projects, grid expansions, and energy diversification efforts aimed at reducing power import reliance.A significant portion, P1.2 billion, will support Botswana Power Corporation's (BPC) power importation and loan repayment. According to the Minister of Finance, Ndaba Gaolathe “other projects that are funded include: Phase 2 of the Northwest Electricity Grid, Rural Electrification and Network Extension, as well as network reinforcement.” The budget will also cater for key projects under the Integrated Resource Plan, which has targeted 30% renewable energy contribution by the year 2030. Gaolathe said “this includes the Bobonong 3MW Solar Project, Shakawe 1MW Solar Project, the Mmadinare 100MW Solar Project, and the 10MW Pilot Coal Bed Methane Power Project. “ These projects, implemented under the Independent Power Producer model, are said will contribute in diversify the energy mix, reduce reliance on imported power, and contribute to the country's energy independence. Furthermore, funds have been allocated for the implementation of the Ghanzi Oil Depot, which is one of the strategic fuel storage projects as well as rehabilitation of old mines.