Botswana Grants 15-Year Mining License to Giyani Metals for Manganese Project

Botswana has awarded Giyani Metals (EMM.V) a 15-year mining license, paving the way for the company to become the nation’s first battery-grade manganese producer. This development aligns with the increasing demand for manganese, a key component in batteries, driven by the growth of electric vehicles and clean energy applications.
Giyani’s Kgwakgwe Hill (K. Hill) project will process manganese oxide on-site to produce high-purity manganese sulfate, positioning it as one of the few battery-grade manganese projects outside of China, which currently controls 90% of the global high-purity supply. The K. Hill mine is projected to have an initial annual output of 80,000 metric tons of high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate over a 57-year lifespan, according to a 2023 preliminary economic assessment.
The company noted that the next step involves the production of battery-grade manganese from its demonstration plant, currently under construction in Johannesburg, South Africa. The output from this plant will be used for offtaker qualification, a critical step before signing offtake agreements.
Botswana, known as the world’s largest diamond producer by value, relies heavily on diamonds, which contribute 30% of national revenues and 70% of foreign exchange earnings. The country is actively seeking to diversify its mining sector to include minerals such as copper, nickel, coal, and iron ore. In addition to diamond mines, Botswana has two operational coal mines and three copper mines.
With the global demand for green minerals rising amid the energy transition, the increasing need for battery metals like manganese may help reduce Botswana’s reliance on diamonds.