Botswana has granted Giyani Metals (EMM.V) a 15-year mining license, as announced on Wednesday, enabling the company to become the nation’s first producer of battery-grade manganese. Manganese is essential for batteries, and its demand is anticipated to rise with the growth of electric vehicles and other clean energy technologies.
Giyani’s Kgwakwe Hill (K.Hill) project will process manganese oxide on-site to produce high-purity manganese sulfate, positioning it among the few battery-grade manganese initiatives outside of China, which currently holds 90% of the global high-purity manganese market.
The K.Hill mine is expected to produce an initial annual output of 80,000 metric tons of high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate over a 57-year lifespan, based on a preliminary economic assessment from 2023.
“The next step is to produce battery-grade manganese from our demonstration plant, which is currently being built in Johannesburg, South Africa,” the Canadian company stated. The output from this plant will be crucial for qualifying potential customers before any off-take agreements can be established.
Botswana, the leading diamond producer by value globally, relies heavily on diamond exports, which account for 30% of national revenue and 70% of foreign exchange earnings.
The country aims to diversify its mining sector by exploring minerals like copper, nickel, coal, and iron ore. In addition to its diamond mines, it currently operates two coal mines and three copper mines. As the global demand for green minerals increases due to the energy transition, the need for battery metals like manganese is expected to lessen the country’s dependence on diamonds.