According to a company official, Botswana’s first iron ore mine, Ikongwe, has begun production and delivered its first exports to China as the Southern African country works to diversify its economy away from diamonds. Although the contribution of diamond mining to GDP has declined over the years and was less …

Many African governments take a short-term, predatory approach to the sector, playing to populist rhetoric, rather than engaging it as a long-term developmental partner. Africa has the potential to be the continent of the future in the mining industry. However, if government’s approach mining companies in a predatory manner, this …

Botswana signed a 10-megawatt gas-fired power deal with Tlou Energy (TOU.AX) on Monday, as the southern African country attempts to strengthen its energy security and diversify away from polluting coal. Botswana wants to add 600 megawatts (MW) of solar, coal, and gas-fired electricity in the next five years as part …

According to a recent assessment published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Botswana’s wind and solar electricity, as well as copious biomass wastes, can be used to enhance access to energy services. The assessment, titled Renewables Readiness Assessment: Botswana, stated that short-to-medium-term actions in the areas of policy, regulatory, …

Transnet, South Africa’s state-owned freight carrier, has been encouraged to reconsider a decision made earlier this year to abandon plans to expand a rail link that would have opened up a new route to Botswana. The project is essential to the coal industries of South Africa and Botswana, according to …

Minister of Minerals, Green Technology, and Energy Resources Lefoko Moagi said that Canada’s Premium Nickel Resources (PNR) will purchase Botswana’s bankrupt state-owned BCL copper mine to resume operations within three years. In February, PNR was given the exclusive right to do six months of due diligence on BCL, which was …

Prospecting licences PL232 and PL235 issued by Botswana Diamonds subsidiary Sunland Minerals in 2015 have been extended for a two-year term beginning October 1. Drill targets on the two PLs have been discovered by recent aeromagnetic surveys, followed by targeted ground magnetic surveys and soil samples. PL232 and PL235, measuring …

2020 was a remarkable year for the global mining industry. The impact of the covid-19 pandemic was felt early and hard by the global mining industry through shutdowns of mines, ports and rail and other transportation infrastructure, with shipments stranded at sea or caught in port and with inconsistent restrictions …

Botswana Diamonds has finished its nine-hole drilling program on the South African Thorny River property. The goal was to determine if two kimberlite blows (the River and River Extension blow) might be combined into a single orebody, boosting the overall resource and improving the project’s commercial prospects. A total of …

According to financial services provider Absa Bank Botswana, Botswana’s economy is on the mend, aided by the mining sector. “Botswana’s economic recovery is underway with an improving outlook for diamond demand buoying medium- to longer-term prospects. Rough diamond prices are recovering in line with stronger demand in key markets, such …