Member Info for BOTS_PROJECTS

Https://www.facebook.com/theprojectsbw/posts/pfbid02n3ao3pwmwrxetxkiyKpftDXQnMGzr4vmyopaftmpkbWg4TndzJzYKQYMvZA2usVAl

This one talking about Bots Govt establishing a minerals exploration company - to help improve the business environment in Botswana for minerals exploration companies exploring in Botswana + provide a possible investment / financing option. All good stuff.

However one obvious question - if they are establishing a sovereign wealth fund and this minerals exploration company and the Budget for 26/27 is showing a deficient of 18 billion or 1.5 billion USD deficit - where oh where is the money coming from to pay for these wonderfully well articulated plans of Govt ??

Obvious answer in Middle Easy, whether is Qatar or Oman or UAE. So are we seeing the beginning of Botswana being bought by the Middle East ??

De Beers is likely to be sold to a public-private consortium, according to the head of the diamond group’s majority owner Anglo American, after several African countries expressed interest in taking stakes. Duncan Wanblad, chief executive of the London-listed mining group, said he hoped to wrap up the sale of De Beers this year despite the deteriorating diamond market. “We are relatively far advanced” in the sale process, which would “almost certainly” result in the government of Botswana taking a greater ownership stake in the company, he told the FT. 

The company is nearing the end of the second stage of the bidding process, in which it will identify its preferred buyer, which would “probably be a consortium” composed of both government and private entities, he said.  The sale of the struggling diamonds unit is part of a radical restructuring plan that Anglo undertook after fending off a hostile takeover bid by rival miner BHP in 2024. But it comes in the context of a challenging market for the precious stones amid a slowdown in luxury spending by Chinese consumers and competition from cheaper, lab-grown diamonds. 

Anglo this month warned that it may be forced to write down the value of De Beers again — for the third time in three years — when it announces its annual results next week.  The government of Botswana is a key player in the sale process, given its existing 15 per cent stake in De Beers that President Duma Boko has been vocal about wanting to increase.

In addition, the Angolan government has expressed an interest in buying a slice of the company, with officials telling reporters on the sidelines of this week’s Indaba mining conference in South Africa that the state aimed to take a 20-30 per cent stake. 

Namibia, which produces about a tenth of De Beers’ diamonds, has also been weighing whether to bid for a minority stake in the company, according to people close to the process.

Wanblad said Botswana was “the key determinant here because they are a key shareholder in the business”.  Given the “tough” diamond market that continued to worsen last year, the timeline for finalising the sale process would depend “on the timing of financing, more than anything else”, he said.

“I’m still hoping that it’s going to get done this year,” he added.

Anglo had initially said it aimed to complete either a sale or a public listing of De Beers by the end of 2025.

Yesterday's budget just goes to show how good Botswana Govt are at talking about projects - they been saying this same old stuff since before Tidd and Tony and various PR teams lasered in on the great energy story that is CBM in Botswana. Such a shame that nobody was capable of developing the industry.

Maybe it is time for Sekaname to make a comeback .......

Mr. Speaker, the largest share of the proposed Ministerial Development Budget amounting to P5.23 billion or 22.36 percent of the total budget is recommended for the Ministry of Minerals and Energy. The provision is intended to cover several critical allocations, including P2.270 billion for BPC power imports, P730 million to meet the loan obligations to the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China; P200 million for the Cross-Border Electricity Supply Project; and P100 million for the Power Distribution Network Reinforcement. These allocations reflect the Ministry’s strategic focus on stabilising electricity supply, honouring national commitments linked to Morupule B Power Plant and strengthening the resilience of the national grid amid rising demand and regional supply constraints.

144. Among the major projects for 2026/2027 is the North-West Transmission Grid Phase II, budgeted at P1.37 billion. This strategic transmission backbone will connect the Chobe District, enable electricity exports into the ZIZABONA market. The Ministry also prioritises Rural Village Electrification and Network Extension, aimed at expanding access to electricity in underserved communities, as well as the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which targets achieving a 50 percent renewable energy contribution by 2030. In addition, to safeguard the security of petroleum product supply, which is critical for sustaining economic growth and national stability, the Government is implementing two (2) projects, namely, the expansion of Francistown and Ghanzi Petroleum Depots, both scheduled for commissioning in April and August 2026 respectively.

43. Once completed, Government will consider the findings and provide policy direction on the most viable model to pursue, guided by the objectives of ensuring energy security, improving electricity affordability and increasing private-sector participation in the power sector.

44. Mr. Speaker, Government remains committed to positioning the country as a regional energy hub, both as a reliable exporter of power and as a catalyst for new industries such as data centres that require stable, high‑capacity electricity. To advance this ambition, the National Integrated Resource Plan has been revised upward to deliver an additional 1.5 gigawatts of renewable energy between now and the first quarter of 2027. To operationalise this vision, Government is implementing the Power Roadmap outlined in the revised Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2025). As part of this effort, a number of IPPs have since been engaged to deliver projects covering both renewable energy and coal thermal power generation.

45. Implementation of the 600MW Mmamabula Coal Fired Plant is on track, and the first150MW is expected by December 2026, and the full 600MW is expected to be delivered by June 2029 as planned. The government has commissioned the 100MWSolar PV plant in Mmadinare and three small grid-tied projects in Bobonong, Shakawe, and Ghanzi. In addition, the 100MW Solar PV plant in Jwaneng is scheduled for commissioning in March 2026, with additional small-scale projects expected within the next 24 months. The Maun 600MW solar project is under procurement, whilst the procurement of Letlhakane 400MW solar PV is still under preparation. Further, the 400MW Isang solar PV project has been moved forward, for implementation in 2026.

46. Mr. Speaker, to meet base-load requirements and ensure system reliability, Government will prioritise the rehabilitation of Morupule B Power Station and the development of additional coal-fired generation capacity. These investments will underpin national energy security while creating opportunities for electricity exports11through regional power purchase agreements. All these efforts are expected to stimulate industrialisation, support economic diversification, and position Botswana as a competitive and reliable energy supplier in the region.

Remind me - when was covid.

"I have zero worries about this project!!" - oh dear, here comes 5 out of 5

Good to see the children are managing to get out to play today.

..... incredibly DULL !

(Let the abuse from the usual idiots begin)

Wrong on both counts. The Qatar and Oman money is ear-marked to facilitate Govt acquisition of De Beers. That has to happen first; then wait and see what the follow on is.

BPC are not delaying Tlou linking to the grid and energising the TX line - Tlou is responsible for that all on their own ! And you are just making things up by saying BC will pay for this or that ...... You have no basis to make such a claim. (But that never stopped you in the past so is hardly likely to stop you now.)

All you do on this board (when you discuss Tlou) is speak in a white man, western world logic pattern. But Tlou is working in an environment where those principles are different - that is what happens in a cash-constrained environment.

And you mention Kala money is interest free. There is NO SUCH THING as free money !! So swooning over what you think is free or cheap money ijust sums up your ill-fated logic when studying and analysisng investment opportunities. Remember - 4 out of 4 doen the swanee, and the 5th hanging by slither ....... I am sure the Doc did not get rich by continuing to chuck good money after bad. Everyone has their limit - he made that clear back in 2023 (I think)......

"They have talked for years about bringing in new financial partners especially from within country .. Nothing has been forthcoming coming! Is this likely to change given where the company currently stands?"

Read the most recent Q4 economic report at this link - best publication from any independent source in Botswana (that I know of). And you interpret this as meaning there is substantial available funds with Botswana Govt depts for investment in foreign small scale projects, then I suggest you keep reading the report until you understand just how dire the funding situation is there. There is no spare money for Tlou - AND it would not surprise me if the MDCB funding of 35m pula indicated by Botala Energy does not happen. Just my opinion mind.

https://econsult.co.bw/download-latest-report/

Give examples please.

My losing investments were AVN , HMV, SXX and USOP. I had too much trust in the ringleaders Welsh, Simon Fox , English and Irish.

At least you are consistent. 5 from 5.

Amazing the knock on effect from not providing details on gas flows and composition. Think it through chaps

And with all this recent disappointment, this is what you revert to. What real belle end !

Love it. You guys only know how to dish it out.

Let me remind you of something winni - it wasn't me that made a hash of Tlou. I just happened to be telling this was happening .... when it was happening.

Quote of the decade. Nay - quote of the century !

Normal service being resumed. Company update is screaming things are bleak and getting bleaker. After 5 mins of appreciating the severity of the situation, the brain reverts back to 'there is no way I could have been so wrong with my decision making and saint tony will still be the one to lead us to the promised land'.

2 horizontals wells are not expected to provide enough gas to run a 2MW power island - oh my goodness you brainless people - that is beyond belief !! Understanding this reality would enable any intelligent minded person to realise the wells are not performing anywhere near the level they should. That begs any number of questions which too many of you folks here we happy to just ignore - probably because you realised any intelligent conversation on the matter was impossible if Brad kept getting involved with his endless unfocussed blah blah. Don't upset the old dolt; don't try correct him; just let him be and let him ramble ........ Well thats what he did - and he is back doing it - and if ever they was a clueless Tlou shareholder, he is the main one !

But is far more fun to try shoot the messenger. The messenger that told you years ago the management were disingenuous, and continued to be until 3 days ago. Finally they started to divulge reality. And guess what - reality is clearly only going to get worse. Before it gets better - assuming it does ever get better.....

Oh my. He says I need to get over myself ...... Clueless doesn't start to come close.

Do you really think Kala haven’t investigated this prior to their investment in data centre and generators? And I’m pretty sure Tlou would have done before inviting KLA to the table ? That how business works .. but not in your world it’s all done on wing and pray the.. is that what you are saying ?

Nobody cares what you want, think or harp on about .. you are irrelevant to this board. You only have to look at the responses to any question you ask! That’s just the same over on board in the UK.

First power will be produced in the next few weeks. I will be interested in what else has been going on in the last quarter! If they are serious about this project they won’t have been twiddling they’re thumbs ..

No one gives a F about want you think and I can have may views on things .. They may well not fit into your dark views . Nobody in they’re right minds would build all that infrastructure for 2mw only .. you are showing your immaturity with a statement like that. They were obviously built with at least 25mw in mind and probably a lot more over time ..

Us Ozzies think big work hard and succeed .. what about you ? I bet your fat balding old codger who spends most of his time trolling and trying to bait people into conflict .. look at us in the cricket and that says it all .. head and shoulders above you pommies .. just got back from a day at the SCG and a few

schooners what a great day!

I guess then the acceptance phase is starting to really bite in for you both then. Brad - well he will never re-emerge from lalaland.