Dr Adrian Gale
Debswana Diamond Company says it is awaiting a final regulatory approval to start the rollout of Scannex Project at its operations in a bid to help arrest contraband leaving the mines.
The move will make local operations at par with De Beers’ Vanetia mine in Limpopo and Namdeb in Namibia-where the system has already been installed. The system will cost the company owned 50/50 by De Beers and Botswana government P50 million to implement.
Eunice Mpoloka, Senior Projects Manager said the project is a culmination of Banks and Kemoso, two reviews conducted to determine the state of security at the company’s operations. “The outcome saw there were weaknesses and vulnerabilities,” she revealed. The two reviews were followed by internal one that confirmed security leaves a lot to be desired.
“We were required to do something to improve our security,” she said, adding that it was when surveillance systems and access management systems were introduced.
The Scannex system will be another project aimed at solving the problem of contraband leaving the mines undetected. The scanning machines will be installed in Orapa (4), Jwaneng (4), Letlhakane (1) and Damtshaa (1).
Scannex will replace the search system, which is conducted at a high risk areas called where workers or visitors are obliged to take off their clothes to be searched.
“It is safe, tried and tested system that is used in South Africa and Namibia. Namibia uses a low dosage machine,” she said. “It speeds up the search process”.
However, there is resistance from Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU), which represents workers in the resources sector. The union argue that radiation from the machinery is hazardous to its members.
The company however, will go ahead once the remaining approval is granted which is expected to attract backlash from Jack Tlhagale’s BMWU.
Under the system, 200 scans can be conducted on employees annually. However, pregnant women will exempted and will be allocated new roles during pregnancy to avoid being scanned. Mpoloka also revealed exemption will be done on medical ground although there are concerns it could be subject to abuse as workers and doctors currently can collude to concoct a sick leave.
“We are still waiting for approval from the Department of Environmental Affairs, which will be the last approval,” revealed Mpoloka.
There has only been conditional approval from Radiation Protection Board in June, 2012.
