BY ONALENNA MODIKWA
STAFF WRITER
MMADINARE: The Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Ponatshego Kedikilwe says that his ministry consults with relevant experts in an effort to reduce the concentration of BCL mine emissions.
Addressing a Kgotla meeting in Mmadinare on Friday, Kedikilwe said experts have indicated that the technology is available but it is very expensive and it may even render the mine unprofitable in the end.
He indicated that if the technology was adopted, more than P1billion would be spent annually towards reducing the concentration of the mine emissions. As such the ministry continues to explore other avenues that include observing how it would benefit companies like the Russian Norilsky before the technology can be adopted.
Kedikilwe said BCL mine was unprofitable for a long time and it survived through government's financial assistance until only recently when it became sustainable. He wondered what would happen to the more than 5, 000 population dependent on BCL if the mine was to close because of the emissions.
He added that because the mine took time to become sustainable, the government was forced to get loans from international companies that have to be paid back.
"We are currently in negotiations with those companies, KFW and ICD, to pay back their loans and these are some of the factors that make it difficult for us to adopt the very expensive technology of controlling BCL emissions. We are not just sitting but exploring other possible ways, at the same time ensuring that the mine must remain financially self- sustainable," he said.
One resident, Boatametse Senabjwe, had asked why the government cannot consider the ACTIVOX method at BCL because the issue of emissions has been there for too long. Senabjwe claimed that the only government's excuse is that projects are in the pipeline but this was overwhelmingly dismissed by the minister.
Kedikilwe had also highlighted that Copper and Nickel mining in Matsiloje's Tati Nickel is well in progress.
He said 145 villages in the country will soon be electrified as a way to ensure that services reach the people. The construction of dams like Lotsane and Thune is in progress and upon completion they will consider connecting them through a single pipeline to ensure security of water supply. "It is expensive but it can be done technically,' he added.
Meanwhile Kelesamile Direro, a local resident said the government should not ban harvesting of thatching grass because people harvest and pile it up until it rots, while it could have benefited grazing animals.
One resident also expressed the need to have graveyards in Manga and Matabi wards. They also expressed concern that the land board takes too long to process applications for commercial plots and for the CEDA's Young Farmers Fund beneficiaries to progress. They also said the Department of Water Affairs often runs short of payment receipts.
Senabjwe also urged the government to rethink the decision to transfer married couples as it contributes to other social ills.
But Kedikilwe said sometimes it is not easy to keep married couples in one area and cited transfers on promotion to a position that cannot be acquired in the same area.
"There is a directive however that couples should not be separated". Responding on behalf of the land board, Oreeditse Keboitse said it has never received any application for the YFF project and as such it has never caused any delay in land allocations to that effect.
He said they only received one complaint from a farmer.
