Outlook
International interest in exploration for diamond and base and precious metals is expected to continue. The country’s favorable geologic environment, mineral investment climate, low tax rates, and political stability are expected to continue to make Botswana a foreign mineral investment magnet. The Government encourages mineral value-added processing, but the paucity of water in landlocked Botswana has deterred large-scale industrial development. The country’s small domestic market, the cost of transportation to ports in South Africa, and the perception of rampant Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic also limit the nation’s attractiveness to investment by foreign manufacturers. High fuel costs would continue to affect the cost of transportation of Botswana’s imports and exports adversely.
Revenues from diamond operations are expected to continue to be the mainstay of the country’s economy for the foreseeable future, although Debswana has scheduled lower production volumes. Copper, gold, nickel, and soda ash production and processing also are expected to continue to be notable factors in the country’s economy.
Given the country’s extensive coal resources and projected regional power demand, Botswana has the potential to develop and support a small-scale coal-bed methane industry and additional coal-fueled electricity-generating plants that could supply power to the South African Power Pool through its land lines to South Africa.
Read more about this topic: Mining In Botswana
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