United States Ambassador to Botswana, Mr. Howard Van Vranken, recently visited the Kgwakgwe Hill battery manganese project in Kanye, marking a significant step in the development of the world’s potential largest vertical integration manganese project. The project, spearheaded by the Canada-based Giyani Metals, is poised to produce high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate, a critical mineral for various industries, including electric vehicle batteries.
During his visit, Ambassador Van Vranken expressed the United States’ strong support for such mining initiatives, recognizing their potential to contribute to both local and global markets. He highlighted the importance of Botswana’s collaboration with Giyani Metals, commending the Botswana government’s role in facilitating the project’s development and ensuring that the necessary steps are taken to bring these valuable products to the market.
The Ambassador also lauded the local beneficiation aspect of the project, emphasizing how it would allow Botswana to harness its rich manganese resources for domestic value-added processing. This, he said, was a positive development for the country, as it would not only create economic opportunities but also meet the growing global demand for manganese minerals.
The Kgwakgwe Hill project represents a significant milestone for Botswana’s mining industry, particularly in the context of the global shift toward electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions. As one of the world’s largest projects of its kind, the project is expected to play a crucial role in meeting the future demand for high-purity manganese while fostering long-term economic growth and development in Botswana.
