Mining sector embraces a new era of smart partnerships
Mining sector embraces a new era of smart partnerships
Under the banner of “New Opportunities, Smart Partnerships,” this year’s Future of Mining Summit arrives at a critical juncture, not only for Botswana but for the global mining industry.
The world is living through an era of seismic transformation, driven by shifting market dynamics, evolving regulatory expectations, and the urgent imperative of environmental sustainability. Yet, within this complexity lies enormous opportunity.
When speaking at The Future of Mining Summit in Gaborone this week, CEO of Morupule Coal Mine, Chairman of the Botswana Chamber of Mines, and Chair of The Future of Mining Summit, Edwin Elias, said the challenges faced, volatile commodity prices, increasingly stringent ESG requirements, and the ever-tightening spotlight on climate impact, are real.
“But equally real are the possibilities before us: possibilities for breakthrough innovation, sustainable economic diversification, and a bold localization agenda that places Batswana at the heart of progress.”
President Duma Gideon Boko’s vision for a reimagined Botswana underscores a vital truth: no single actor can seize these opportunities alone. The future envisioned must be co-created. Radical collaboration, smart partnerships across every segment of the economy, is not a choice, it is an obligation.
“We must build dynamic partnerships between government and industry, to foster policy coherence and attract sustainable investment, as well as between mining companies and host communities, to ensure shared prosperity and long-term development.”
Elias further said partnerships should be between large operators and citizen-owned enterprises, to strengthen value chains and stimulate inclusive industrial growth, and across key sectors, energy, logistics, manufacturing, technology to truly unlock Botswana’s mineral wealth in ways that transcend raw extraction.
“This is not rhetoric. This is how we drive inclusive economic transformation. This is how we ensure no Motswana is left behind. Strategic partnerships must form the bedrock of a more diversified and resilient economy. They offer a tangible path to build local capacity, scale domestic supply chains, and create dignified employment, particularly for our youth, who must be equipped with future-proof skills aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
Despite recent fluctuations in diamond revenue, mining remains a cornerstone of the economy. Elias says this moment demands greater innovation, deeper exploration, and a bolder approach to investment across the full spectrum of mineral assets.
“Botswana is already witnessing a promising surge in exploration activity and the rise of junior mining players, encouraging signs of a sector ready to diversify beyond diamonds. Morupule Coal Mine is proud to be at the forefront of this new wave, unlocking the value of coal for regional energy security while pursuing cleaner, more efficient technologies. Beyond coal, minerals like copper, base metals, rare earths, and industrial minerals offer us the chance to rewrite our mining future, and position Botswana as a modern mineral economy.”
Crucially, Elias says players must match this momentum with the right talent. Investing in human capital is non-negotiable. Botswana’s youth must be prepared not only to fill jobs but to lead innovation in mining, engineering, data science, and green technology. Collective future depends on it.
“This is precisely why platforms like the Future of Mining Summit matter so deeply. Much like the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, our summit is fast becoming a pivotal stage for shaping the national and regional mining agenda. It is where policy is clarified, partnerships forged, and the building blocks of a modern, inclusive mining economy are laid,” he said.
The benefits of this platform are far-reaching: co-creation of smart, investor-friendly policy, knowledge transfer and sector capacity building, strengthening of citizen participation and ownership, acceleration of job creation and local content as well as greater positioning of Botswana as a competitive mining jurisdiction on the global stage.
The path ahead is bold and ambitious but it is also entirely within reach. With the right partnerships, policy frameworks, and purpose-driven leadership, Botswana will not just navigate this era of transformation, but will thrive in it.
Mining sector embraces a new era of smart partnerships
Under the banner of “New Opportunities, Smart Partnerships,” this year’s Future of Mining Summit arrives at a critical juncture, not only for Botswana but for the global mining industry.
The world is living through an era of seismic transformation, driven by shifting market dynamics, evolving regulatory expectations, and the urgent imperative of environmental sustainability. Yet, within this complexity lies enormous opportunity.
When speaking at The Future of Mining Summit in Gaborone this week, CEO of Morupule Coal Mine, Chairman of the Botswana Chamber of Mines, and Chair of The Future of Mining Summit, Edwin Elias, said the challenges faced, volatile commodity prices, increasingly stringent ESG requirements, and the ever-tightening spotlight on climate impact, are real.
“But equally real are the possibilities before us: possibilities for breakthrough innovation, sustainable economic diversification, and a bold localization agenda that places Batswana at the heart of progress.”
President Duma Gideon Boko’s vision for a reimagined Botswana underscores a vital truth: no single actor can seize these opportunities alone. The future envisioned must be co-created. Radical collaboration, smart partnerships across every segment of the economy, is not a choice, it is an obligation.
“We must build dynamic partnerships between government and industry, to foster policy coherence and attract sustainable investment, as well as between mining companies and host communities, to ensure shared prosperity and long-term development.”
Elias further said partnerships should be between large operators and citizen-owned enterprises, to strengthen value chains and stimulate inclusive industrial growth, and across key sectors, energy, logistics, manufacturing, technology to truly unlock Botswana’s mineral wealth in ways that transcend raw extraction.
“This is not rhetoric. This is how we drive inclusive economic transformation. This is how we ensure no Motswana is left behind. Strategic partnerships must form the bedrock of a more diversified and resilient economy. They offer a tangible path to build local capacity, scale domestic supply chains, and create dignified employment, particularly for our youth, who must be equipped with future-proof skills aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
Despite recent fluctuations in diamond revenue, mining remains a cornerstone of the economy. Elias says this moment demands greater innovation, deeper exploration, and a bolder approach to investment across the full spectrum of mineral assets.
“Botswana is already witnessing a promising surge in exploration activity and the rise of junior mining players, encouraging signs of a sector ready to diversify beyond diamonds. Morupule Coal Mine is proud to be at the forefront of this new wave, unlocking the value of coal for regional energy security while pursuing cleaner, more efficient technologies. Beyond coal, minerals like copper, base metals, rare earths, and industrial minerals offer us the chance to rewrite our mining future, and position Botswana as a modern mineral economy.”
Crucially, Elias says players must match this momentum with the right talent. Investing in human capital is non-negotiable. Botswana’s youth must be prepared not only to fill jobs but to lead innovation in mining, engineering, data science, and green technology. Collective future depends on it.
“This is precisely why platforms like the Future of Mining Summit matter so deeply. Much like the Mining Indaba in Cape Town, our summit is fast becoming a pivotal stage for shaping the national and regional mining agenda. It is where policy is clarified, partnerships forged, and the building blocks of a modern, inclusive mining economy are laid,” he said.
The benefits of this platform are far-reaching: co-creation of smart, investor-friendly policy, knowledge transfer and sector capacity building, strengthening of citizen participation and ownership, acceleration of job creation and local content as well as greater positioning of Botswana as a competitive mining jurisdiction on the global stage.
The path ahead is bold and ambitious but it is also entirely within reach. With the right partnerships, policy frameworks, and purpose-driven leadership, Botswana will not just navigate this era of transformation, but will thrive in it.
