Botswana set to export chemicals
Botswana is expected to commence exporting Sodium Metabisulphite (SMBS) and Phosphorus used in the extraction of Cobalt in the next nine to 12 months.
That is when the P200m chemical manufacturing project undertaken by Kemcore and Vinmart in Selebi Phikwe is expected to be completed.
Facilitated by SPEDU, the project entails construction of a 50 000 tonnes per annum SMBS plant and 12 000 tonnes per annum phosphoric acid plant in the first phase.
The products would serve directly as chemical inputs into cobalt producing mines for global transformation towards energy efficiency, particularly electric vehicles that promote a cleaner environment hence mitigating against the effects of climate change.
The P200 million project will see the country exporting Sodium Metabisulphite (SMBS) and phosphorus in the next nine to 12 months. A green product, SMBS is a recovery agent for the extraction of cobalt, which is used in the manufacturing of batteries.
Production of the chemical was therefore in alignment with trends the globe was moving to, said Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry Ms Beauty Manake during a ground breaking ceremony for the project on Monday.
She explained that the products had a ready market around the globe with major mines in the DRC and South Africa.
The company already had commital orders and exportation would commence immediately the project was completed.