Khoemacau Copper Mine Expansion Gains Momentum with Over P3 Billion Committed

Khoemacau Copper Mine Expansion Gains Momentum with Over P3 Billion Committed. The multi-billion-pula expansion of the Khoemacau Copper Mine, operated by MMG Limited, is moving ahead rapidly, marking a major milestone in Botswana’s mining and industrial growth. With over P3 billion in funding committed, early works are already underway to scale up the country’s flagship copper project.

Speaking during Botswana Sustainability Week, Boikobo Paya, Director of External Affairs at MMG Khoemacau, said the expansion will boost production capacity to 130,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate per year, establishing Khoemacau among the world’s leading Tier 2 copper operations.

The Khoemacau Expansion Project involves the construction of a 4.5 million tonnes-per-annum processing plant, increased output from Zone 5, and the development of three new underground mines — Zone 5 North, Zeta North-East, and Mango North-East.

According to MMG, the expansion feasibility drilling programme has already allocated USD $21.3 million (over P270 million), including USD $11.6 million (over P150 million) for feasibility studies. Early works, which include land acquisition, camp construction, pipelines, roads, and terraces, are valued at USD $68 million (over P880 million).

The acceleration plan — covering long-lead items such as the new processing plant, box cuts, and Front-End Engineering Study (FEES) — is estimated at USD $128.7 million (over P1.6 billion), bringing the total committed investment to USD $229.5 million (more than P3 billion).

Progress continues across multiple fronts. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) for Zone 5 and Mango have been completed and authorised. Land acquisition is ongoing, with six farms already purchased, and transfer duty processes in progress.

Additionally, infrastructure contracts for the Toteng–Boseto road and access routes to new mining zones have been awarded. The feasibility study is expected to conclude by November 2025, with construction of three box cuts set to begin in December 2025.

The first copper concentrate production from the expansion is targeted for December 2027, marking a transformative phase for Botswana’s mining sector and the local supply chain ecosystem.