Oman’s MDO Begins Botswana Work on Proposed Copper and Gold Joint Venture

Oman’s MDO Begins Botswana Work on Proposed Copper and Gold Joint VVenture. Minerals Development Oman (MDO) has deployed its legal, commercial and technical teams to Botswana to begin preparations for a proposed joint venture with Exploration Investment Company Botswana (EICB) focused on copper and gold exploration and development.

The teams’ visit follows the signing of a binding term sheet during the State Visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman to Botswana in September 2026.

MDO and EICB are now working on parallel legal and commercial processes aimed at establishing the joint venture company. Discussions include finalising the terms of the partnership and developing the corporate framework that will guide its operations.

The proposed joint venture will see MDO hold a 76% stake. It is intended to pursue the exploration and development of copper and gold projects in Botswana.

Alongside the commercial and legal work, technical teams from MDO and EICB have started field reconnaissance in areas identified as being of mutual interest. The teams are assessing prospective areas, identifying priority targets for further investigation and gathering information to inform future exploration programmes.

The reconnaissance findings are expected to help determine which areas move forward to the next stage of exploration. The proposed partnership forms part of MDO’s strategy to expand its international mining investment portfolio, while supporting EICB’s mandate to unlock Botswana’s mineral resource potential through strategic partnerships and investment.

The companies also identify technical knowledge transfer and local capacity building among the areas the partnership is intended to support. The proposed venture is further positioned around the application of advanced exploration expertise and sustainable economic development.

Its longer-term objectives include establishing productive mining operations, creating employment opportunities, enhancing value addition and generating benefits for Botswana.