Botswana Dismisses CKGR Mining Reports
February 24, 03
The government of Botswana has denied that diamond exploration is planned in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). Following the latest accusations by Survival International in November that De Beers is planning to mine the region and that Busmen tribes were relocated ahead of this, now BHP-Billiton and the World Bank are in the hot seat.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mineral, Energy and Water Affairs, Dr. Akolang Tombale says that the license it granted is for exploration throughout Botswana, including parts of the CKGR. According to Dr. Tombale, President Mogae's statement last November that "There is neither any actual mining nor any plan for future mining inside the reserve" still holds true.
Dr. Tombale, while not disclosing the name of the miner, says the company found kimberlite traces outside the reserve, emphasizing that the license was for exploration and not mining.
The board of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) - the private sector development arm of the World Bank Group - approved an investment of up to $2 million for a 10 percent stake in KDL to for diamond exploration in Botswana. BHP Billiton plans to take a 20 percent stake in KDL and provide its proprietary aerial Falcon technology.
KDL will acquire through a Botswana subsidiary about 90 prospecting licenses covering about 78,000 sq/km. About a third of the licenses are within the Central Kalahari and Khutse Game Reserves where the Kalahari Bushmen San reside.