Member Info for BOTS_PROJECTS

You are an appalling student Bradley; very slow to learn. I hvae been teaching you all about the myriad of problems business faces in Botswana for 5 or more years now and still you cannot grasp the issues. So slooooooooow.

The Board of Directors of Minerals Development Company Botswana (MDCB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Pelaelo Daniel Khowe as Caretaker Chief Executive Officer, effective 20 April 2026. Mr. Khowe is a seasoned finance and investment professional with over 20 years of experience across finance, accounting, grants management, and strategic leadership in both the public and private sectors.

Prior to his secondment, he served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals and Energy, where he provided strategic oversight of Botswana’s mining and energy portfolio, including several key state-owned enterprises. His appointment reflects the Board’s commitment to ensuring leadership continuity and strategic stability at MDCB during this transitional period.

Mr Khowe brings extensive expertise in investment strategy, financial governance, and large-scale project oversight, underpinned by his involvement in major national initiatives, including Botswana’s landmark mining and energy negotiations and infrastructure projects. Among his notable achievements, Mr Khowe chaired the Finance Working Group during the Botswana-De Beers diamond negotiations. He has also played a pivotal role in structuring, negotiating, and delivering Botswana’s first 300MW coal-fired Independent Power Producer (IPP) project, as well as 10MW and 6MW Coal Bed Methane power pilot projects.

His distinguished service has been recognised with the award of the Naledi Ya Botswana (N.Y.B) for meritorious service. “The Board welcomes Mr Khowe to this role at a pivotal time for MDCB. His depth of experience, strategic insight, and strong understanding of Botswana’s minerals and energy landscape position him well to provide steady leadership and continuity. We are confident in his ability to guide the organisation as we advance our mandate and sustain momentum during this transition,” said Mr Oabile Mabusa, Board Chairman, MDCB.

What does Tlou and Brad have in common ?

They both talk a game. I nearly typed they both talk a good game, but jeez if you can call the last decade of excuses a good game, then you need help !

Winni - dad has a real mouth on him so sorry, until he throttles back and shows some respect, he is fair game !

Love the way you and yer Dad like to tell me what I know and what I dont know. The reality is TG left under a cloud - you talk all you want and try deflect, divert, defuse. He carried the can for something - the company never acknowledged his contribution. Thats all you need know here.

As for yer Dad's ramblings - jeez I am so bored reading his utter tripe! he has not got a clue.

Not back tracking in the slightest. You are just trying to be Bradesque-clever with your play on words. TG is guilty of something - that is why he exited swiftly. You know it; I know it; he knows it; the 2 new local Botswana folks appointed (director and company secretary) know it; ....... So no Noddy - not back-tracking.

The question was - why does Tlou not proceed to finish of the last remaining aspects of the TX line ?

The answer is either they cannot raise the funding OR there is not sufficient certainty around ability of wells to perform consistently to produce sustained power generation.

This is the crux of the Tlou story - not endless phiffle about Tlou /Kala match made in heaven, take-over (what a joke), access to funding, blah blah blah from old blah blah blah himself.

So - WHY DOES TLOU NOT COMPLETE THE CONNECTION TO THE GRID IF THIS IS THE SITUATION THERE CURRENTLY ??

Botswana’s reliance on imported electricity remains under sharp focus despite a significant drop in volumes during the fourth quarter of 2025, according to Statistics Botswana. The latest Electricity Generation and Distribution Report from Statistics Botswana reveals that electricity imports fell by 12.1 percent year- on- year to 313,630 MWh, down from 356,682 MWh in the same period in 2024. Quarteron- quarter, imports plunged even further by 39.8 percent, highlighting shifting supply dynamics.

“Eskom continues to dominate as Botswana’s principal supplier, accounting for nearly 60 percent of imports,” the report stated. Regional utilities, including Zambia’s ZESCO and Namibia’s Nampower, also contributed significantly.

The report notes that crossborder electricity markets and the Southern African Power Pool played smaller but strategic roles in supplementing supply.

Authorities acknowledge the challenge. A senior official indicated that efforts are underway to “diversify energy sources and strengthen local capacity to reduce exposure to external disruptions.”

Absolute rubbish XT. it is just another large iron ore deposit in Africa a gazillion miles from port evacuation which drives the cost way up. There has not been anywhere near enough drilling and testing to provide major certainty on grade - but it is a deposit area that is both sizeable and remote and therefore somewhere the mining fraternity feel they can exploit and take a few scalps out of the local economy.

There is so much twaddle posted here about high grade, strong partners, slurry pipeline. These are development concepts that fit nicely and neatly into a development storyboard. But there need to be a DFS when costs will get properly challenged. And even then, the darned mine is so far from port evacuation (plus local beneficiation plans) that those costs are ball park figures sufficiently accurate to satisfy the project debt providers.

It will be a minor miracle if this mine is in production in 5 years time !

Hold or Run for the hills ?

Critical minerals and rare earths are what the market is interested in currently. Not low margin iron ore deposits that require a bucket load of infrastructure and other items of hassle to be overcome pre-development.

So, for the time being - chase the rainbow elsewhere is my thinking.

Now that wont sit well with folks that have spent the last couple years thinking theit retirement plans were going to be fulfilled by ZIOC. Sadly !

Last week, you posted on HC that my articles about general things in Botswana were not On Topic.

So WTF is puzzlemania supposed to be ...... You are a A-hole and a TAWT. Am really fed up with your endless stupid irrelevant BS

stop posting this ****e brad - it is just rubbish !!

This came through my airwaves this morning, which is making me question development of remote iron ore mines in Africa. The issues raised here are the same for both companies.

Tsodilo on the Verge of the Next Step – Cape Fria Changes the Valuation Logic

Cape Fria could emerge as a potentially decisive factor in a revaluation of Tsodilo Resources (WKN: A0B880 / Ticker: TZO / TSXV: TSD).

The feasibility studies for Kaoko Fria—a planned megaproject featuring a smart city and deep-sea port on the coast of Namibia—have been successfully completed. The port remains a political priority, and the government has clearly signaled that if investors come on board, the project will be implemented.

The goal is a trade hub with over 100,000 new jobs in the first phase, as well as massive infrastructure development. At the same time, the Trans-Zambezi Railway has been confirmed as economically viable. And this is precisely where the key economic lever comes into play: new railway line + new port = a completely new export corridor for Tsodilo! This means: predictable logistics, stable cost structures, and better scalability.

Why is this so crucial?

Existing options like Walvis Bay have structural disadvantages for Tsodilo: longer transport routes, limited capacity, and no specialization in large volumes of iron ore. Cape Fria, on the other hand, could be designed specifically for bulk exports—with a direct connection. Ultimately, this boils down to one thing above all else: lower costs. In mining, savings of just $15–25 per ton can turn a project from “unprofitable” to “highly profitable.”

When scaled to millions of tons, this represents a massive cash flow lever—and it is precisely this lever that is currently missing from the valuations of many exploration companies. The market currently still values companies like Tsodilo with an infrastructure discount. But this very discount begins to disappear as soon as plans become reality. And we are currently in precisely this transition phase.

Assuming a production scenario of 7–20 million tons of iron ore, this could result in an additional potential operating cash flow of $105 million to $500 million per year for Tsodilo. If a project without infrastructure has an NPV close to zero, a significant reduction in transportation costs could potentially shift that figure into the range of several hundred million USD. Even if the market prices in only a fraction of that, it can lead to price multiples for small-cap stocks—precisely because the initial valuation is correspondingly low.

The bottom line is that Cape Fria is not simply “a better port” for Tsodilo, but potentially the missing piece that turns a geologically interesting project into an economically viable one. It is these developments that often serve as the starting point for significant revaluations in the capital markets.

Those who correctly interpret this trend will recognize an early opportunity for Value Creation

𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐀'𝐒 𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐘 𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 – 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍.

His Majesty the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq and I presided over the signing of decisive agreements that advance Botswana’s energy security and economic transformation. We have secured a 500MW solar photovoltaic plant with battery storage, a critical step in delivering sustainable and reliable power. Through the Botswana Geo-Science Institute, we have also entered a joint exploration agreement with Minerals Development Oman to unlock value in copper, gold, graphite, and iron ore.

In addition, the joint development agreement between OQ S.A.O.C. and Botswana Oil Limited will drive key infrastructure projects, coastal storage in Walvis Bay and the Tshele Hills Strategic Petroleum Depot, strengthening supply chains and national resilience. This is bold, strategic execution. Botswana is securing its energy future and unlocking real economic value.

I never cease to be amazed by his drivel

Why dont you try and post something intelligent then and see who engages with you. Brad has killed this board - and is doing his level best to kill HC.

All you can do is chuck stones as well - so wind your neck in.

You are right Winni. I know nothing; I know nobody; I am a serial liar who just makes stuff up to suit my rhetoric coz all I have to do is post messages from my box attic in Doncaster so you can take pot shots when the mood suits you.

You are as pathetic as Brad. But who cares .... certainly I dont. Gilby left under a cloud - FACT !! Whether he gets sued ...... time will tell.

Https://www.miningreview.com/news/thungela-commits-r400m-to-south-africas-first-coal-bed-methane/

Looks like Tlou is no longer the most advanced cbm operator in southern africa as they oft like to tell us.

"The company said the project has undergone extensive geological exploration, technical testing, and environmental monitoring over more than 20 years, with no reported incidents of water contamination. It has demonstrated that low-pressure, low-volume hydraulic stimulation is a safe and controlled method for gas extraction."

I am surprised Brad didnt know this

Winnie, I would have to look back to read my precise words posted around the time of TG hasty exit as to whether I claimed corruption or not. But I am happy to repeat here what the chat there was about his exit ..... He was the leader of Tlou during the time they made great claims to BPOPF about wells performance and the overall state of Tlou progress towards its objectives. And most of that progress had not been achieved. And when BPOPF folks took a closer look under the Tlou bonnet, they realised they had been made fools by Tlou management. And mgmt was lead by TG - and so somebody had to go - bye bye Tony. And there was also considerable chat about efforts by Tlou to discredit Sekaname to the hierarchy at BPC - and I was recently told the ongoing root and branch review of BPC business structure and personnel is still ongoing. As you are increasingly mentioning in your posts, nothing gets done quickly there. That surely is obvious to everybody now that look in here!

Gilby was the leader for those formative years in Lesedi development. He exited quickly and maybe the real reasons for that will come out, and maybe they wont. But he or they did something ...... that much is obvious with hindsight !!

There was a numptie back in the day that was all gung ho and going to report me to President of Botswana, the FCA and interpol - for saying that Tlou was a basket case, over-hyping their reality and saying all the wonderful things they had done and were going to do. And here we are 6 to 8 years further along, and what has changed. ..........

Keep up the good work everyone. Especially you brad - what did you post 2 days ago on Hotcopper about staying on topic re posting on a Tlou message board. Good to see you practise what you preach.