TELF AG examines a major update in Botswana’s mineral strategy

The strategic role of manganese

In the raw materials sector, the African nation of Botswana has historically been associated with diamond production, which has allowed the country to become one of the world’s largest producers of these precious resources since the 1960s. Today, Botswana still has some of the world’s largest diamond mines. Still, in recent years, the nation has embarked on an ambitious path to develop other types of geological resources, some of which are directly involved in the great global energy transition process. Among these are copper and nickel, of which the nation has relevant reserves.

Another resource that Botswana is focusing on is manganese, a metal also used in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles. A few days ago, news came out that the Botswana authorities had started a collaboration with a Canadian company to source manganese in the town of Kanye, about 90 kilometers from the capital Gaborone. According to some estimates, this manganese project would be worth about 984 million dollars.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana, Lemogang Kwape, quoted in a recent report, the project related to the sourcing of this resource would potentially revolutionize the clean energy sector, contributing to the nation’s economic development. An important aspect is the one that has to do with the addition of value to the sourcing of the raw material: following the example of other African nations, which are working to enhance as much as possible the resources sourced in the national territory and to process them locally, in order to add value, Botswana is also taking action to achieve similar objectives, ensuring that part of the processing will take place within the national perimeter.

The Role of Manganese in Renewable Energy

According to Tsephiso Masilonyane, program manager at the Botswana Climate Change Network, the choice to focus on manganese could allow Botswana to position itself as a major player in the renewable energy sector, particularly for the role played by the resource in electric vehicles and solar energy storage technologies. According to the analysis, the government’s choice to focus on manganese sourcing would also have a precise strategic significance, linked above all to the desire to diversify national production of geological raw materials and to promote exploration, research and development of other mineral resources, so as not to depend excessively on diamond production alone.

Thanks to its peculiar chemical and physical properties, manganese has undoubtedly become one of the most appreciated metals in various industrial processes. One of its best-known applications is in producing steel, which is used to remove impurities during the smelting process. Still, the resource has also become central to the battery sector in recent years. Manganese is mainly used in electrodes, and in lithium-manganese batteries, manganese dioxide is one of the materials chosen for the cathode. In this specific sector, manganese is also appreciated for its ability to improve the thermal stability of the battery. The resource has also been noted for its good storage capacity, making it valuable for present and future energy technologies.