GABORONE, Sept 16 – Mining chemicals importer Kemcore has secured environmental clearance for a planned manufacturing complex in Botswana, clearing a key regulatory hurdle as the company moves toward financing a facility designed to serve copper and cobalt producers across Southern Africa.
The approval marks a significant milestone for the project, Kemcore founder and Chief Commercial Officer Calisto Radithipa told Reuters. The company is targeting financial close by December 2026, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and initial production scheduled for the first half of 2028.
Kemcore plans to manufacture a range of chemical reagents used in mining operations, including sodium metabisulphite, sodium hydrosulphide and sodium isobutyl xanthate.
The company is currently in advanced discussions with potential financiers as it seeks to fund the development.
“Talks with funders are advanced, and we have seen good interest from regional and local institutions, as this is a good opportunity for having exposure to the critical minerals without actually investing in a mine,” Radithipa said.
The facility will be developed in phases, with total investment estimated at about $140 million. Once fully operational, the complex is expected to produce approximately 150,000 metric tons of battery-mineral reagents annually.
Strategic Location for Critical Minerals Supply
Kemcore plans to establish the plant at the Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park in central Botswana, positioning the project close to key raw material supplies required for chemical manufacturing.
The company expects to source gas, soda ash and salt locally or from nearby projects. Discussions are already advanced to secure gas from Botala Energy’s coal-bed methane development, according to Radithipa.
Soda ash and salt are expected to come from the Botash mine, located approximately 300 kilometres northeast of the planned facility.
The location is also intended to support access to mining markets in the wider region, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, where copper and cobalt production has expanded the demand for mineral-processing inputs.
Kemcore describes the project as the first integrated battery-minerals chemical complex in Southern Africa, reflecting the company’s strategy of moving beyond chemical imports toward regional manufacturing.
Energy Infrastructure Supports Development
The facility will be housed within Botala Energy’s Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park, which is being developed as an industrial and energy centre in central Botswana.
Botala plans to develop up to 700 megawatts of hybrid gas and solar power generation capacity at the hub, providing potential energy infrastructure for industrial users operating within the development.
For Kemcore, establishing production close to raw materials and energy infrastructure could reduce dependence on imported mining chemicals while creating a regional manufacturing base serving some of Africa’s most important copper and cobalt-producing markets.
The planned investment also comes as African mineral producers seek to develop more of the supply chain around critical minerals within the continent, rather than relying predominantly on imported processing inputs.
