RE: Billboard2 Dec 2018 20:52
As mentioned in the MOD LSE prospectus, they are not aware of anyone being refused a mining licence in the area.
Moreover, the man from Gaborone has just renewed a sh*tton of MOD's exploration licences, committed to easing regulation to invite heavier/quicker foreign investment into Botswana and is on record as wanting to diversify the country away from diamonds.
Given the millions of square kilometres of Kalahari Copper Belt in Botswana and the man from Gaborone's recent commitment to deliver electrification to the area ahead of the prior schedule - presumably for no other reason than to drive Copper mining in the district - it would seem more than reasonable that he'll be falling over himself to get anyone and everyone paying tax on their Copper earnings ASAP.
Cupric start production next year up the road from us to boot.
So, yeah, go ahead and refuse a mining licence and see what that does to foreign investment - your SA and DRC neighbours are a pretty good model for what happens next.
All that said, it's a binary and can't be weighed in any valuation - it's a given that it's granted and a disaster if it's not - just like every other mining play in the world.