Botswana's mainstay industry growth prospects

At the risk of being said to be scraping the bottom of the barrel again we could do worse than peruse "Chamber remains bullish on economy's mainstay industry" , 19th Feb., by Nadine James for Creamer Media's Mining Weekly.

CEO of Bots Chamber of Mines on growth prospects generally in base metals and coal noting the cyclical nature of the industry and without specific mention of BCL/BML makes much of the planned "base metals exploration and benefication". The BCM CEO Siwawa notes the industry is under pressure and with several mines having had to mothball their ops., "most companies are remaining operational under the unfavourable economic conditions on the basis of the cyclical nature of commodities". He states "it has been forecast that (diamonds and) nickel will bounce back quicker than other minerals". Whether this will indeed happen short term, his point is that the future direction is in maintaining the industry and emphasizing the need to beneficate Bots' minerals.

This emphasis is backed up in a passing mention within an article by Tracy Hancock of Creamer Media in the same issue discussing MBA ( Mt Burgess) settling it's disputes with Bots Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources (MMEWR) and consequently restarting work. Hancock states "MBM has been approached and has agreed to participate in a proposal relating to benefication within Bots of all local base metals production".

Not to put too fine a point on it (and bearing in mind there has been considerable criticism on HC about (1) posters who are over enthusiastic about prospects, and - at the same time - (2) formerly enthusiastic "rampers" now becoming mute post the Cash Raise announcement) I draw attention to Worley Parsons' involvement.....Hancock stating " This proposal is currently being assessed by business advisory Advisian South Africa _ a subsidiary of project development consultant Worley Parsons".

Obviously there may be synergies here for BML if Worley Parsons are instrumental in the benefication project generally. It may be a plus for BML....then again it may not, but WP involvement can surely do no harm.