Exploring Southern Africa’s new frontiers

Botswana and Namibia are attracting growing interest from early-stage exploration companies.

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions    

This year the annual WhyAfrica Road Trip turns north-west from South Africa towards Botswana and Namibia. Copper, uranium, gold, lithium, REE and other critical mineral deposits are attracting more and more international investors searching for stable mining jurisdictions in Africa.

The Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB) extends for almost 1000km across northern Botswana into north-eastern Namibia.

Demonstrated potential of the Copperbelt

For decades the region remained underexplored because the mineralisation remained concealed beneath thick layers of ancient Kalahari sand. However, advances in airborne geophysics, geochemistry and drilling technology have fundamentally changed that picture.

Botswana has already demonstrated the potential of the KCB through projects such as Sandfire’s Motheo and MMG’s Khoemacau mines, while several junior exploration companies and a number of majors continue expanding their exploration footprints across the region.

A renaissance in Namibia

Across the border, Namibia is experiencing its own mining renaissance. Copper and REE exploration are high on the agenda. However, the country’s uranium sector is back in the global spotlight as governments seek secure supplies of nuclear fuel to support the transition towards lower-carbon electricity generation.

Few regions are better positioned than Namibia’s Erongo Uranium Province.

Erongo has produced uranium for more than four decades and hosts some of the world’s best-known uranium operations, including Rössing, Husab and Langer Heinrich. These mines continue expanding existing operations.

Around these established mines, however, a new generation of exploration and development companies is advancing projects that could significantly increase Namibia’s future production.

Companies such as Bannerman Energy, Forsys Metals, Orano, Elevate Uranium, Deep Yellow and Arkle Resources continue to demonstrate Namibia’s exceptional potential.

Follow the opportunities and challenges

But both Namibia’s uranium industry and Botswana’s expanding copper sector depend on reliable electricity, secure water supplies and efficient logistics. These are strategic constraints that will ultimately determine how quickly projects move from exploration into production.

Follow this year’s WhyAfrica Road Trip in September and October as we track the KCB through the Kalahari and further explore Namibia’s and Botswana’s extraordinary potential and opportunities during the 35-day long WhyAfrica RES Road Trip.

During WhyAfrica’s annual road trips through Africa we travel the back roads to visit existing mining operations and exploration camps. We talk to a range of stakeholders and interview geologists, mine managers, community members and government officials while experiencing the realities of doing business on the continent first-hand.

Remember, WhyAfrica’s partners, sponsors, members and advertisers can follow the WhyAfrica Road Trip live on the WhyAfrica WhatsApp and YouTube channels.

Image: Early-stage exploration in Namibia. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica

Exploring Southern Africa’s new frontiers