Minergy Limited will list a coal company in Botswana in the first half of the year that will aid job creation in Botswana, supply the regional coal market with high grade product and potentially take advantage of the buoyant international coal markets. In the initial capital raising before the listing of Minergy’s exciting Masama coal project, BWP70 million was raised by means of a private placement with selected investors. A further placement is planned for March 2017 as part of the Botswana Stock Exchange listing process. The company has further plans to list on the JSE in the latter half…
Author: Editor
Forevermark, the diamond brand from The De Beers Group of Companies, says it has passed 2,000 retail doors globally, following the opening of the Zen Diamond Anatolium store in the city of Bursa in Turkey. The milestone consolidates Forevermark’s position as one of the world’s fastest-growing diamond brands. Forevermark was launched in 2008 with the promise of diamonds that are rare, beautiful and responsibly sourced. Since then it has grown significantly and is now available in 25 markets worldwide. De Beers continues to invest substantially in the Forevermark brand, with US$85 million spent on Forevermark’s consumer-facing marketing activities in 2016…
EOH Industrial Technologies and STEAG Energy Services of Germany are proud to announce their strategic joint venture to bring leading expertise to the Energy sector in South Africa. STEAG EOH Energy Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd. which was announced at the Africa Energy Indaba (AEI) in Johannesburg is an important milestone in the provision of technology and energy services in the country and is a strong signal of the business potential in South Africa for foreign investors. By combining leading international expertise and experience in the processes of the efficient operation of power plants with local skills, STEAG EOH…
UK-based Gem Diamonds said fall in prices has forced them to mothball the Ghaghoo Mine located in Botswana’s Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). Gem said recently in a market update that with its focus on profitable production, the future of the operation remained under review with a decision scheduled to be made during the first quarter of 2017 with regards to its current financial viability. In a note to shareholders, the company said the Board has since decided that the mine will be placed on care and maintenance with immediate effect. It could be reopened after two years, if prices…
Tsodilo Resources Limited, the TSX-listed company said it has commenced a drilling programme utilising its diamond core drill rigs on its wholly owned BK16 kimberlite project. The purpose of this drilling programme is to drill pilot holes on the sites which have been earmarked for the Large Diameter Drill (LDD) drilling programme. According to the company, a geological model based on the 3,050 meters of core recover in 2015 was completed in 2016. Kimberlite phases VK2 and VK3 are volumetrically the most important and will be the focus of the LDD programme. “The placement of the initial 14 LDD holes…
Government has agreed with Botswana Oil Limited (BOL) that the muted multi-billion pula coal liquefaction project is beyond its reach financially although admitting it will narrow the trade gap with South Africa. Botswana can substitute petroleum products it imports from South Africa with its own produce if it were to spend $3-4 billion or (over P40 billion) to set up a coal to liquid plant to beneficiate its 212 billion coal reserves it has under the ground. Acting Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Nonofo Molefhi said Botswana imports all her petroleum requirements (approximately 1.2 billion litres per…
Tlou Energy Limited, the AIM and ASX listed natural gas explorer says there has been an upgrade on reserves at its advanced Lesedi CBM Project in Botswana. It also announced initial Reserves for the Mamba Project. The company said the reserves assessment, which have been independently certified by Dr Bruce McConachie of SRK Consulting (Australasia) Pty Ltd, showed that there has been a 44% increase in 2P (Proved and Probable) Gas Reserves to 3.9 billion cubic feet (BCF). There has also been 390% increase in 3P (Proved, Probable and Possible) Gas Reserves to 261 BCF. According to the company, the…
Rio Tinto has decided to gift the Bunder diamond project in India to the Government of Madhya Pradesh after a comprehensive review. In August 2016, Rio Tinto announced it would not proceed with the development of Bunder due to commercial considerations and would be seeking to close all project infrastructure. Under a Government of Madhya Pradesh order signed in January 2017, the Government will accept ownership and take on responsibility for the Bunder assets. The inventory of assets and associated infrastructure handed over to the Government comprises all land, plant, equipment and vehicles at the Bunder project site. The inventory…
The Botswana Chamber of Mines (BCM) said it will adopt the Towards Sustainable Mining® (TSM) initiative, a corporate social responsibility programme developed by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) to improve environmental and social practices in the mining industry. This is first time that TSM has been adopted by a mining association in Africa, and the third to do so outside of Canada. FinnMin, the Finnish Mining Association, adopted TSM in November 2015 and the Cámara Argentina de Empresarios Mineros (CAEM), the Argentinean Chamber of Mining Entrepreneurs, adopted the initiative in October 2016. MAC and its members launched TSM in 2004. Implementation of the program is mandatory for all…
The Botswana mining industry has been called upon to strike a balance between job creation and protection for the environment. The Minister for Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama said at an international conference on mining investment in Gaborone that Botswana has ensured that sustainable environment management forms a core part of all mining activities. Khama added that government advocates for sustainable development and sustainable use of natural resources. “We continue to do this through partnerships and engagements with the mining industry and importantly through implementation of Environmental Assessment Act,” he said. “The objective of this approach is…