GABORONE — Botswana’s Ministry of Higher Education and MMG Khoemacau have entered into a partnership to establish a Centre of Mining Excellence at Maun Technical College, aimed at strengthening skills development for the country’s growing mining sector.
The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding on July 24, marking a new collaboration between government and industry to develop a skilled, work-ready mining workforce.
The Centre is expected to strengthen technical and vocational training, particularly in areas such as underground mining, while giving Batswana access to skills required by the modern mining industry. MMG says the initiative will combine academic training with practical industry experience and involve other mining companies operating in Botswana.
International expertise is also expected to form part of the programme through collaboration with the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute and other technical partners. MMG Khoemacau will provide initial seed funding, with additional investment expected from government and industry partners.
The initiative comes as Botswana expands its mining industry beyond diamonds into copper and other base metals. Khoemacau, located in the Kalahari Copper Belt, is undergoing an expansion that is expected to significantly increase copper production over the coming years.
MMG is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with China Minmetals Corporation as its major shareholder, giving the project a direct Botswana–China investment and skills-development dimension.