On the afternoon of February 6 (Beijing Time), the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion project of the Khoemacau Copper Mine in Botswana was held in Maun. This project marks the first major investment of China Minmetals to commence construction during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, as well as its first major resource expansion project. Chen Dexin, Chairman of China Minmetals, Zhu Kebing, Director and General Manager, along with company leaders Wang Xingquan, Cheng Yong, and Duan Wenwu, attended the ceremony via video link from the Beijing venue. At the Maun venue in Botswana, attendees included Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Fan Yong, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, Xu Jiqing, Vice General Manager of China Minmetals, Zhao Jifeng, Vice General Manager of CNIC, as well as representatives of the Botswana government, employees of the Khoemacau Copper Mine, and community representatives.

Chen Dexin declared the official launch of the Khoemacau Copper Mine expansion project via video link. At the Maun venue, the principal guests pressed the launch screen together, marking the official commencement of the project.

Bogolo Joy Kenewendo extended her warm congratulations on the project commencement on behalf of the Government of Botswana. She praised China Minmetals for its role in advancing the country’s mining industry and supporting economic diversification, noting that the project will significantly enhance Botswana’s economic resilience and create long-term, sustainable development opportunities for local communities.

Fan Yong noted that the expansion of the Khoemacau Copper Mine is a landmark achievement in the practical cooperation between China and Botswana. He emphasized that this project not only showcases the strong confidence of Chinese enterprises in Botswana's development environment but will also serve as a new driver for the growth of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two nations.

Xu Jiqing, speaking on behalf of China Minmetals, expressed gratitude to the Government of Botswana and relevant departments for their strong support throughout the preparation for the Khoemacau Copper Mine expansion project. He noted that since the acquisition of the Khoemacau mine, China Minmetals has maintained stable operations and delivered solid results through effective management integration and process optimization. With a total investment of nearly US$1 billion, the expansion project is designed to achieve an annual ore processing capacity of over 8,000,000 tons. Upon completion, it is expected to produce approximately 130,000 tons of copper metal and more than 4,000,000 ounces of associated silver per year. The projected annual output value is estimated at US$1.4 billion, representing around 7% of Botswana’s gross domestic product. The project will strictly adhere to international mining standards and further deepen localized operations. By focusing on job creation, skills training, and support for local enterprises, the company remains dedicated to fulfilling its social responsibilities and achieving shared growth with the community.

The expansion project will involve the construction of new mining systems, a modern processing plant, and related supporting facilities. Upon completion, the Khoemacau mine will be developed into an integrated production system that combines multiple underground mines, a processing plant, and a tailings storage facility.

Lan Yuqiang, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Botswana, along with representatives from relevant headquarters departments and enterprises, attended the ceremony in Maun. At the Beijing venue, heads of various China Minmetals departments, external directors, and representatives from participating construction and partner organizations joined the event via video link.