Sustained efforts aimed at mineral diversification are necessary for safeguarding the future of Botswana’s mining economy, highlights Botswana Mining and Energy (BME) Conference and Expo event organiser Spire Events MD Daniel Radziszewski.

Compared with previous years, there was an increase of 20% in exhibitors at this year’s event, including first-time exhibitors from China, and a 30% increase in expo visitors.

The BME 2025 event was held at the Boipuso Hall at the Gaborone Fairgrounds, in Botswana, last month, amid a new political dispensation in the country, which is aiming to set the course for economic diversification to meaningfully address the country’s socioeconomic challenges.

Themes such as the global energy transition and its impact on Botswana’s mining and energy sector, trends in financing and insurance for the mining sector, updates on global coal markets, technology transformation in Botswana’s mining and energy sector and gender equality in the country’s economy were discussed.

There were “lively and often candid” discussions between speakers and attendees on the challenges and opportunities present in Botswana, with varying perspectives from citizens and attendees from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, as well as from afar as Canada, Radziszewski says.

“There was a general consensus that the mining industry has been, and will continue to be, a major economic driver for Botswana.”

However, he adds that there needs to be a coordinated effort to streamline policies and regulations, taking into account feedback from stakeholders on the ground, to attract local and international investments.

“That said, the entry of global mining powerhouses into Botswana, such as diversified commodities major BHP with its $25-million investment in copper projects . . . is a step in the right direction, and time will tell if such global investments will be sustained and how much it will benefit . . . citizens,” Radziszewski highlights.

Key Takeaways

Attendees and speakers agreed on the need to promote the diversification of mineral resources, stressing that Botswana’s mining industry should continue investing in other minerals, such as copper, to reduce dependence on diamonds, and thereby facilitate the generation of new revenue streams.

A reliable, continuous and uninterrupted power supply was highlighted as critical for sustainable industrial development in the country, while Radziszewski says only baseload energy can provide the consistency and confidence that the country’s mining industry requires to attract investment.

Mining companies in Botswana face various risks, including the growing risk posed by electricity shortages amid increasing pressure to decarbonise.

However, he notes that comprehensive insurance coverage is one way of mitigating such mining-related energy, liability and accident risks.

From a technological perspective, efforts to leverage AI and machine learning could also enhance mining operations and boost efficiency – factors that are particularly important when considering the optimal mechanisms needed to extract resources.

Further, while there has been a growing awareness of gender equality – with advocacy groups such as the Women in Mining Botswana Organisation increasingly empowering women in Botswana’s mining and energy sectors – it is a continuous process that must effect a sustained paradigm shift, says Radziszewski.

Nonetheless, he says prioritising investment in skills development can boost job opportunities in the mining and energy sectors, especially in roles that are not commonly, or were not previously, available to women.

Meanwhile, Radziszewski says the strength of the BME event lies in its global outreach and international perspectives. With more than ten global mining events held worldwide yearly since 2014, Radziszewski highlights that BME brings international and regional companies and stakeholders to Botswana to enrich and uplift its mining and energy sectors.

“We look forward to having more government representatives from Botswana and the SADC region and beyond attending and speaking at the BME event, to further enrich this growing and pertinent dialogue with key industry concerns,” Radziszewski concludes.