Tough questions are being raised in Parliament over Botswana’s agreement with Chinese mining giant MMG Limited amid concerns that the country may be losing out on billions of pula in potential revenue and jobs by exporting raw copper without local processing.
Serowe West Member of Parliament, Leepetswe Lesedi, has formally asked the Minister of Minerals and Energy to disclose key details of the Government’s agreement with MMG Limited, which operates the Khoemacau Copper Mine in the Kalahari Copper Belt.
Lesedi wants the Minister to reveal the terms of the deal and how much revenue the Government has received so far under the agreement.
He also questioned why Botswana continues to allow raw copper to leave the country unprocessed.
“How much has been paid to Government so far as per the agreement, and why Government allows for raw materials to leave the country unprocessed to be refined elsewhere?” Lesedi asked.
“Why Government does not see the need for value addition to the copper through beneficiation within the country to ensure Botswana does not only benefit from mere extraction,” he asked.
The Khoemacau Mine, one of Botswana’s major new mining operations, produces copper concentrate which is exported for refining outside the country, mainly due to the absence of local smelting and refining facilities.
But Lesedi warned that exporting raw minerals deprives Botswana of significant economic benefits.
He pressed the Minister to disclose how much raw copper has been exported since the mine began operations and the annual volumes leaving the country.
The MP further questioned why the Government has not prioritised beneficiation — the local processing of minerals — to maximise national returns.
“Why Government does not see the need for value addition to the copper through beneficiation within the country to ensure Botswana does not only benefit from mere extraction,” he asked.
Lesedi also demanded clarity on citizen participation in the lucrative copper sector, including what measures are in place to ensure Batswana benefit across the entire value chain.
He said citizen involvement was critical to “ensuring that more of the industry’s wealth is realised within the country, creating jobs, fostering innovation, and equipping locals with the skills.”
The Serowe West legislator further requested detailed production figures, including how many tonnes of copper Khoemacau produces annually, how many Batswana are employed, and the mine’s expected lifespan.
The Khoemacau Copper Mine has been described as one of the strategic asset for Botswana which is seeking to reduce its reliance on diamonds and expand its mining sector.
The Minister of Minerals and Energy is expected to respond in Parliament with the answers likely to spark wider debate about Botswana’s mineral beneficiation strategy and the future of its copper industry.
