09 Jun 2024

The mining industry has been challenged to devise a decarbonisation strategy that would address climate change adaptation and mitigation factors.

Speaking at the Botswana Chamber of Mines dinner in Jwaneng on Thursday, Mr David Lesolle of Climate Change Group, implored industry players to deploy technologies that could reduce the amount of carbon emissions in their operations.

Mr Lesolle noted that even though the country, through the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), had made targets towards climate change mitigation measures, it was imperative for the mining operations to come up with environmentally-friendly plans to reduce emissions.

He noted that the mining sector was vulnerable to effects of climate change despite the country’s efforts towards the NDCs.  He said such a strategy would also address climate change challenges across the value chain opportunities that arise from the main mining operations.

“We have to do much more on carbon emissions, it is not just your own emissions, it is the emissions of the guy who is servicing your transport, and it is emissions of the other guy who is supplying your petrol, the guy who is catering for your needs in the staff cafeteria.

We call those scope one, which is emissions assigned to the main core of the business, then scope two is services and scope three are the suppliers of the services. You can imagine that is a whole lot of accounting to do,” he said.

Additionally, Mr Lesolle urged mines to utilise social structures to bring local communities on board regarding climate change adaptation and mitigation.

He underscored the need for the mining entities to strive for paperless operations to reduce the effects of paper and plastic on the environment.

He further encouraged them to incorporate the decarbonisation strategy in their corporate social responsibility activities.

Jwaneng Mine acting general manager, Mr Goitseone Gadifele noted that a solution-based mindset was needed to address issues faced by the mining industry and further respond to climate change challenges.

Mr Gadifele applauded the Botswana Chamber of Mines for laying a good foundation for the local mining industry and having a positive impact on the African continent.

“You continually serve the main interest of the mining industry both in Botswana and across the continent of Africa.

Your vision places itself as an effective and unified voice for the mining industry that also educate and share vital knowledge between its stakeholders,” he said. He noted that in an endeavour to show commitment towards a healthy environment and high safety standards towards employees, Debswana had deployed efficient and less energy consuming processes.

He further noted that plans were underway to find alternative ways to reduce their diesel consumption in their daily business activities. ENDS