Former BCL mine employees are to continue staying in the company houses free of charge for yet another year. The Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security- Honourable Lefoko Moagi revealed.
The former employees, most of which are now jobless will be allowed to stay in BCL houses until March 2022.
“The arrangement was extended five times, with the last approval for extension made in March 2021. The last approval extended the lease arrangement until 31st March 2022. The approval also aimed to cease the arrangement thereafter, due to budgetary constraints.”
One thousand, one hundred and eighty-seven (1 187) inhabitants of the mine houses were left unemployed after the BCL Group of Companies (BCL Limited, BCL Investments, and Tati Nickel Mining Company) were placed under provisional liquidation in 2016 by the High Court of Botswana. As such these former employees have been living there for five (5) years now.
“Currently there are 1,187 BCL housing units occupied by the former employees of BCL Limited with an average monthly rental cost of P2,302,000. The decision to pay rent on behalf of former Mine employees was made with a view to: cushion the negative impact of closure of the BCL Group Mines on the former employees; give the families occupying the BCL houses time to make alternate arrangements for accommodation; reduce the risk of vandalism to the houses which could negatively impact the BCL estate if the houses were otherwise left vacant; and avert potential mass exodus from Selebi-Phikwe township which could paralyse the economy of the town.” the Minister stated.
However, now that the preferred bidder- Premium Nickel Resources Corporation (PNR) has been given time to conduct due diligence, the former employees may find employment once more in the mine if PNR decide to buy. PNR was selected a preferred bidder against offers from Qora Limited and Msymba Groupe SA.
