President Boko Declares New Era of Mineral Processing in Botswana

President Boko Declares New Era of Mineral Processing in Botswana. Botswana’s mining sector is poised for transformation as President Duma Boko announced a bold policy shift aimed at ensuring all minerals are processed locally before export.

Speaking during a Kgotla meeting in Ramotswa, President Boko declared that Botswana will no longer export raw minerals. The announcement marks a significant move toward local beneficiation and industrial value addition, aimed at retaining more economic benefits within the country.

The President emphasized that Botswana’s mineral resources are often polymetallic, meaning one deposit can contain several economically valuable minerals such as silver, gold, and rare earth elements. By exporting unprocessed concentrates, the country loses out on these additional revenue streams.

To support this policy shift, President Boko confirmed that his administration will introduce enabling legislation to enforce local processing requirements. “We will bring the laws required to make this happen — and when we do, nothing will stand in our way,” he said.

For Botswana’s entrepreneurs, especially those in the industrial, manufacturing, and mining supply chains, this policy shift presents a wide range of opportunities — from mineral processing and refining to equipment supply and technical services.

The move is expected to stimulate industrial growth, create jobs, and diversify the economy, aligning with national efforts to extract maximum value from Botswana’s natural resources.