26 September 2024
The Botswana Geoscience Institute (BGI) has intensified its efforts to explore the untapped mineral resources in the western part of the country. Historically, the western region has been challenging to survey due to thick Kalahari sands, but the BGI is now employing advanced aeromagnetic technology to overcome these obstacles.
The Nossop-Ncojane area is at the heart of these efforts, and the project has been allocated P77 million to unlock the potential of this region. The Nossop-Ncojane Aeromagnetic Project, which began in April 2024, is set to conclude in March 2025.
According to BGI CEO Olefile Mashabila, phase one of the project is nearing completion, having already reached 70 percent progress. Phase one is expected to conclude in November, allowing for the initiation of the second phase.
Mashabila revealed that P33 million has already been spent in the search for new mineral deposits. He explained the significance of the new aeromagnetic technology, which allows researchers to peer up to 3 kilometers beneath the surface.
“The role of the project is to discover new minerals,” said Mashabila.
“The reason why exploration has been slow on the western side of Botswana is because the area is covered by too much sand, and it has always been a costly and difficult exercise to reach deep below.
But the new technology enables us to look deeper and show us what’s available.”
The Nossop-Ncojane Block project aims to conduct a comprehensive, high-resolution aeromagnetic survey, covering approximately 320,000 line kilometers. The region is believed to contain critical resources such as gold, salt, zinc, and platinum group metals.
The Minister of Minerals and Energy, Lefoko Moagi has emphasised the importance of the baseline data being collected through the project. He noted that this data would serve as a valuable resource not only for mining companies but also for other key stakeholders making knowledge-based decisions.
“This project, which is aligned with our nation’s strategic priority of diversifying its mineral base beyond diamonds, is expected to harness and reveal [more natural resources].”
Source: https://thevoicebw.com/botswanas-potential-mineral-resources-remain-unexplored/
