CRONIMET Mining Power Solutions officially broke ground and began its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracting activities for Namibia’s largest photovoltaic (PV) power plant on August 18th, 2014. The PV project is located in Omburu, two hours northwest of Windhoek. When completed, the five-megawatt (4.5MW) grid-connected renewable energy power plant, installed on 16 hectares of arid land, will be Namibia’s first and largest utility-scale ground mounted photovoltaic (PV) system. InnoVent, the French wind developer operating locally in Namibia as InnoSun, selected CRONIMET Mining Power Solutions to manage and execute EPC services and to provide the construction risk-wrap for…
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Shumba Coal said it has been awarded the rights to a new prospecting licence for coal exploration rights in Botswana resulting from the second of its kind open tender, in which both local and international parties participated. According to the company, the new Prospecting Licence No. 308/2014 has been issued by the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources of Botswana for coal exploration rights over an initial period of 3 years. The estimated expenditure to be incurred by the Company during this period is USD330,000. “The presence of coal in the area was investigated by Majors in the…
It was a fun night of Absolut glamour as the Absolut Elyx Lounge was launched in Gaborone at an exquisite party on Friday 5th September 2014 at Absolut Gaborone at Lansmore Masa Square. Launched by Lansmore, in collaboration with Benju, the grand affair attracted the friends, family and loyal patrons of the Lansmore and Benju brands to usher in a new wave of premium chic an unrivalled excellence. Special guest DJs Fresh and Mac E had partygoers in the perfect celebratory mood as the drinks flowed, the conversation piqued and the beat played on. Absolut Elyx is distributed…
Gem Diamonds Limited has announced the opening of its Ghaghoo diamond mine located in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) in Botswana, which Survival International said it confirmed fears Basarwa were relocated from their ancestral land to pave way for mining. The UK based company however praised the mine which it said will emerge as part of a new generation of diamond mines in the country with a core focus on ensuring that the highest benchmarks of excellence across health and safety and social and environmental impacts are achieved. Clifford Elphick, CEO of Gem Diamonds said his company sees considerable…
The Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) has informed the business community, investors, policy makers and other interested parties that the biennial National Business Conference (NBC) will be held in Maun on 23rd -26th November 2014. The event brings together top government and business leaders to formulate new ideas for making Botswana’s firms internationally competitive under the Theme,“Opening Botswana to the World: Attracting FDI and ensuring that Botswana’s firms can compete in the global Economy”. Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive Officer of global mining group Anglo American Plc. will be the keynote speaker. His experience of doing business…
Tickets for the new-look Standard Bank Joy of Jazz – which takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre from September 25 to 27 – are selling fast. The relocation to Sandton means that, for the first time, audiences have been able to buy a full festival pass on Friday, September 26, and Saturday, September 27, to the four main stages – Dinaledi, Conga, Diphala and Mbira – in line with jazz festivals around the globe. Ticket sales show that jazz lovers have embraced this change. Ninety percent of the full weekend passes have already been sold. Sixty five percent of…
Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) 2014-15 has been released and Botswana’s ranking remained stable at 74th place out of 144 countries and, fourth in the region behind Mauritius (39), South Africa (56) and Rwanda (62). Though the country’s position has not changed, it has improved in quality scores from 4.1 last year to 4.2 this year out of a maximum of score of 7. The comparative rankings are 74th for 2013/14; 79th for 2012/13; and 80th for 2011/12. This Report is one of several Competitiveness publications produced by World Economic Forum in collaboration with the Botswana National Productivity Centre (BNPC). The…
DHL Express has grown its retail footprint in sub-Saharan Africa by an astonishing 1,000% in less than three years. In what could become a business school case study, the company’s number of service points increased from 300 to over 3,300, not by building its own bricks and mortar branches but by partnering with local business owners who act as DHL resellers. Thousands of vendors – such as an electronics store in West Africa, a travel agent in East Africa and a small grocery shop in Southern Africa – now allow their customers to send DHL shipments alongside their normal offerings.…
African Energy Resources said the Botswana’s Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has approved its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the 300MW Sese integrated coal mine and power project. The company noted that the approved EIA encompasses a project comprising a 1.6Mtpa coal mine, coal handling and processing plant, 300MW power station, water pipeline, access road, transmission grid connection, construction camp, and an ash disposal facility. The power project will be expected to meet emissions standards derived from air quality modelling specifically undertaken for the Sese project based on International Finance Corporation (IFC) guidelines for thermal power stations and Botswana laws…
Galane Gold Ltd. has installed and commissioned a new SAG mill motor to replace the mill motor that failed in May 2014. In addition to installing a new mill motor the company has also repaired the faulty mill motor which will be stored at site as a spare commencing at the end of September. The company’s insurance providers have agreed to cover certain losses incurred by the company in connection with the mill motor failure under its business interruption insurance policy. The full settlement amount has still to be agreed but an interim payment of $800,000 has been confirmed. Ravi…