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Overview of Mineral Industry in Botswana

A Presentation to Stakeholders

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BACKGROUND

Mining continues to play a very significant role in the economy of Botswana and has contributed to the growth of other sectors. Apart from the world class diamond deposits that are being mined in Botswana, the country also has undeveloped abundant deposits of coal.

Other mineral occurrences include gold, base metals, uranium, industrial minerals (Soda Ash), Critical Minerals (Manganese) a wide variety of semi-precious stones and several types of dimension stones.

The mineral resource potential of the country is indeed abundant and has yet to be fully tapped for the benefit of the nation.

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�MINERAL POLICY AIMS�

To maximise economic benefits to the nation while enabling private investors to earn competitive returns
a competitive environment to stimulate private sector investment in minerals development;
improved linkages with the wider economy;
generation of local employment opportunities;
sustainable minerals development that support environmental conservation and protection

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There are numerous known mineral opportunities of metals and green energy transition minerals in Botswana
Most projects are still in exploration and mineral evaluation stages, including BCL Ni/Cu which are under exploration by Nex Metals
Majority are Nickel and Copper; with Cobalt, PGEs, & Silver occurring as by-products

Two new Copper mines came into production 5 years ago in the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB)

Battery grade Manganese deposits have been discovered in the Southeast of Botswana and the company Menzi Battery Metals got a 15 year licence in 2024.
Resources of Soda Ash currently mined in the Makgadikgadi Pans, and product exported within the region
Iron ore deposits have been delineated in parts of Botswana and projects are still in exploration stage with bulk sampling

MINERAL OPPORTUNITIES

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The environment is conducive for variety of metals.

Molopo Farms Complex has potential for, Precious and Base Metals; Copper (Cu), Platinum Group Elements (PGE), Gold (Au), Nickel (Ni), Iron (Fe) and Rare Earth Elements and Coal (Coalbed Methane).
Ghanzi-Chobe Belt: Copper (Cu) and Silver (Ag) mineralization over a distance of 2,100 km and approximately 1,000 Km explored to-date.
Limpopo Belt: Magmatic Nickel-Copper and PGEs.
Eastern side of Botswana exposed Geology (25%) and
Western side – Sand Covered Geology (75%)

GEOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE (GEOTECHTONIC PROVINCES)

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DIAMOND INDUSTRY IN BOTSWANA

Diamonds are historically the mainstay of the economy,
Botswana is the Founding Member and participant of Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) – Prevents trading of Blood Diamonds.

State Owned Entities and Joint-Ventures to facilitate Industry Growth:-

Diamond Hub: Established to transform Botswana into a Competitive Diamond Center emphasizing on rough and polished diamond trading; cutting and polishing; jewellery manufacturing; and secondary trading of rough and polished diamonds,
Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB): With a Capacity to value 45 Million Carats per Year
Okavango Diamond Company (ODC): Sells 30% of Debswana’s diamond production to facilitate secondary rough trading

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TAX REGIME

Mineral Royalty Rates	10% for precious stones; 5% for precious metals & 3% for other minerals, all calculated from the gross market value of mineral sales at the “Mine gate”
Variable Income Tax Rate (VITR)	The higher of the standard company rate (22%) or the tax rate derived from the formula 70-1500/x, where x (%) = taxable income/gross in-come. (VITR is for non-diamonds minerals, diamond tax regime is negotiated and VITR can be applied if there is an agreement)
Capital allowances	100% depreciation of capital expenditures
Dividend Allowable losses	Unlimited carry forward of tax losses
Withholding Tax	7.5% on distribution to residents and non-resident shareholders
Import Duty	Zero-rated mining equipment and spares, otherwise duties are payable
Value Added Tax	14% applies to all but zero-rated items, which includes exports of minerals. VAT refunds are available upon re-export of items within six months of being brought into the country
Taxation for Downstream procession (cutting, polishing and refining of minerals)	15% tax rate (basic rate of 5% and an additional company tax rate of 10%)
Development Order	0 – 15% for downstream activities, mineral beneficiation projects such as refineries

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GEOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE & MINERAL OCCURRENCE

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NATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY COVERAGE

25 000 Gravity Stations

25% High Resolution (250 line spacing) Coverage of Radiometric – Eastern Botswana

1, 834, 545 line

kilometres of High-Resolution Aeromagnetic survey (90% coverage, 10% to be covered through TNDP project compled

106 760km² Airborne Electromagnetics (20%(of Botswana Covered with Airborne Electromagnetic Surveys

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GEOLOGICAL MAPPING COVERAGE

The government of Botswana continues to invest in mineral exploration in the country to improve prospectivity.
Provision of an enabling environment with good policies to attract FDI.
Enhanced prospectivity through technology advancement (over thick kalahari sand cover), and availing baseline data online.
Streamlined processes (prospecting application, baseline data, instruments)
By 2022, Botswana had invested in production of:-

1: 500 000 geological and mineral potential maps

1: 1 000 000 Geological Map 1997

1: 1 000 000 Geological Map 2022

Planned under NDP 12 (2023 – 2029)

Northern Botswana Mapping Project - 2022

Eastern Botswana 1998

Central Kalahari Mapping Project - 2006

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Government of Botswana’s continue to invest in mineral exploration in country,
Botswana Geoscience Institute (BGI) is concluding a programme called Identification and Assessment of Mafic, Ultramafic and Granitic
The project primary objective was to identify mineral potential such as Platinum Group Metals, base metals, and precious metals as well as Battery metals and Rare Earth Metals to lure private sector investment in mineral exploration and mining.
The project has interpreted existing high resolution aeromagnetic data of northern Botswana and has updated the national geological map,
The key deliverables of the project comprised Geological Maps at 1:125 0000 and 1:250 000 scale, mineral and groundwater potential maps.
In addition to the above, the project will deliver improved geoscience databases that will be uploaded into our national geoscience database for ease of access by global community.

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ON-GOING NATIONAL GEOCHEMICAL COVERAGE

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MAJOR MINING PROJECTS AND MINING OPPORTUNITIES

There are various mining projects across the country. The following are operational mines;

3 Diamonds mines and 3 under care and maintenance
3 Copper mines
2 Coal Mines
1 Soda Ash & Salt

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MINERAL PROSPECTING IN BOTSWANA

Botswana offers enabling environment for mineral prospecting through;

Transparent online application on mining cadastre system.
Highly ranked in Policy Perspective Index (security of tenure, Tax regime & legal frameworks)
and Investment Attractiveness Index (improved prospectivity from Geoscience data)
Hidden opportunity in Sand Covered Western Botswana

Technology advancement enables prospecting activities

Unexploited Industrial Mineral Potential

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FUTURE MINING PROJECTS FROM ACTIVE EXPLORATION

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BOTSWANA RANKINGS BY FRASER INSTITUTE (2025)

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POWER & ENERGY PROJECTS

OBJECTIVES	PROJECTS	COD	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Comments
1. Power Build Programme	IRP Projects
	Development of 500MW (2X250MW) Solar PV Power Plant in Maun	2028					Tender floating and closing on the 6 August 2025. The required land for the projects yet to be secured.
	100MW Wind (Procurement of consultants for Resource Measurements)	2029					Procurement for wind resource measurement and site studies ongoing. ESIA studies commenced in June 2025 and procurement for the 100MW plant will then follow.
	Development of 400MW (2X200MW) Solar PV Plant in Letlhakane	2028					Tender floating and closing on the 6 August 2025. The required land for the projects yet to be secured.
	Development of 400MW (2X200MW) Solar PV Plant in Isang	2028					Land for the site has been secured with approval granted during the Land Board’s sitting of 26 June 2025.
	Development of 600MW (2x300MW) Coal Fired Power Plants in Mmamabula	2026					Construction has commenced and order for major equipment has been placed. The project is on schedule and has created over 768 jobs currently, with only 16 expatriates on site.
	Development of 2x50MW Solar Power Plant in Selebi Phikwe/ Mmadinare	2026					Construction for Phase 1 has been completed and commissioned. Construction for Phase 2 is in progress and is to be completed by March 2026.
	Development of 100MW Solar Power Plant PV in Jwaneng	2026					The Project reached Financial Close on the 8 July 2025. Currently the project employs around 100 people.
	36MW Small Grid Tied (12 villages)	2027					Two villages were commissioned in October 2023. Eight Villages are expected to reach FC by end of July 2025 FC. The capacities of the plants have been revised up to 20MW per site where evacuation capacities are available. The capacities will therefore increase from 36MW to 181MW. The two remaining sites of the total 1 sites have been awarded.
2. National Security of Petroleum Supply	Tshele Hills Oil Storage						The Request for Proposal (RfP) has been approved and awaiting issuance. The project implementation strategy together with the funding model is yet to be determined.

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CONCLUSION

Geoscience Data and Information Databases availability (www.libwin.bgi.org.bw; www.bh.bgi.org.bw & www.geos.bgi.org.bw)
Mineral prospecting applications and all related licensing to mining stage, mining permits are accessible at https://portal.miningcadastre.gov.bw/page/landing
Botswana as the destination for mining – Investment Attractiveness Index 73.74% and Policy Perception Index rated approximately 84.35% (Fraser Ranking, 2024);
Focus on enhancing, promoting, diversifying to improve Botswana’s Mineral prospectivity and beneficiation drive;
Inherent exhaustibility of mineral resources makes their benefit timeline finite and requires planning in advance for resource decline and exhaustion = Integrated Mineral Resource Development Plan; and
Creating a shared approach on how Mineral Resource Development contribute to broad–based development = BLUEPRINT.

Governance/ Reporting Framework

Transparency

Impartiality

Materiality

Competency

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THANK YOU

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