 |
Montwedi Mphathi
General Manager of BCL Mining and Smelting |
| ‘Our matte
is refined in Norway or sent to two refineries
in Zimbabwe’ |
BCL: A leading
African nickel producer
q Deeply rooted in Botswanas
past, BCL Limited is a company which has recently
achieved success through fruitful collaborations with
other companies. BCL
was founded in the 1950s after an expedition found
nickel and copper deposits in a remote area. A heavily
funded company was thus set up with the aid of loans
from a broad spectrum of financial institutions, such
as the World Bank and German Bank PSW. Those
same loans, combined with government projects such
as the construction of the Sashe Dam, helped the mine
to get off its feet.
Such co-operation has since
inspired the company to grow and to demonstrate social
responsibility as well as generating profit. Botswanas
government is interested in the project as it employs
over 4000 people and the surrounding town, which was
built for the miners, depends on its survival. It
has formed strong relationships with companies such
as Falconbridge in Norway and supplies services for
surrounding mines in Zimbabwe including its largest
competitor, Tati Nickel Mining Company. Managing Director
of BCL Montwedi Mphathi says, Falconbridge
have prospects everywhere, including mines. Our matte,
which is 70 per cent metal, copper and nickel, is
refined in Norway, or sent to two refineries in Zimbabwe.
This way we do not rely solely on one source
BCL is exploring future mining sites in the area with
sophisticated techniques that were unknown previously.
The company is also exploring a marketing plan which
focuses on toll treatment of external feeds; a plan
of diversification within their own sector which will
go some way to securing their survival and to adhering
to their devotion to combine their efforts with other
companies, for the benefit of the whole community.
BCLs dedication is evident
in their continuing efforts to educate and support
the HIV-stricken workforce and the surrounding community.