Botswana clears $140m mining chemicals plant for regional battery-minerals supply chain
By Mining Today
Botswana has granted environmental clearance for a $140 million mining chemicals manufacturing plant designed to supply copper and cobalt mining operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
The project, being developed by mining chemicals importer Kemcore, has received a key environmental approval that clears the way for the company to pursue financing.
Kemcore plans to reach financial close by December 2026, begin construction in 2027 and commence initial production in the first half of 2028.
The facility is expected to produce mining chemicals including sodium metabisulphite, sodium hydrosulphide and sodium isobutyl xanthate.
The company projects total annual production of battery-mineral reagents at about 150,000 tonnes when the facility reaches planned capacity.
The plant is being developed at Botswana’s Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park and is expected to benefit from access to local sources of gas, soda ash and salt.
Kemcore said discussions are also advanced over gas supplies from Botala Energy’s coal-bed methane project, while soda ash and salt are expected to come from the Botash mine.
The project is notable because it represents a move beyond mining itself into the industrial supply chain supporting mineral production.
Rather than simply exporting minerals, Botswana is positioning itself to supply processing chemicals to major copper and cobalt-producing countries in the region.
