The KCB gives Botswana hope

 Botswana should be optimistic about ongoing projects in the Kalahari Copper Belt.

 By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions

There is enough happening in the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB) to offer some grounds for optimism about the country’s strategic diversification plans in the wake of the great diamond slump.

Yes, the KCB is not going to replace the prolific Kimberlite giants of southern and central Botswana overnight. However, early signs are good that the Kalahari’s copper will at least raise hopes of an extraordinary turnaround.

WhyAfrica is following the NE-SW trending sedimentary belt from central/north-western Botswana into Namibia on the 2026 WhyAfrica RES Road Trip.

Making a mark in the KCB

In Botswana the belt comprises the Kuke, Ngwako Pan, D’Kar and Mamuno formations. Two operating mines (MMG’s Khoemacau and Sandfire’s Motheo) have already made their mark on the KCB and there are a host of early discoveries that shines bright.

In addition to its significant expansions, MMG recently announced the discovery of the Kgwebe copper-silver deposit, about 6km from Khoemacau’s Zone 5. According to MMG this will add about 1.4Mt of contained copper and 90 Moz of silver to its Mineral Resources. This is not an exploration hole or anomaly, but a substantial new discovery.

New exploration projects in the KCB

According to a number of sources Sandfire is spending a lot of money on new exploration, including drilling around the A1 resource and exploring the wider KCB and Okwa Valley.

In between Khoemacau and Motheo, Cobre is targeting Cu-Ag mineralisation around the Ngwako Pan/D’Kar contact at their Ngami Project. They are also pursuing In-situ Recovery (ISR) of copper and silver.

Cobre is also exploring at Kitlanya West and East, where BHP committed USD25-million to the joint venture in 2025.

New exciting ventures like Botswana Minerals is using AI analyses of historical data from holes originally drilled looking for uranium and diamonds. The company suspects that there might be a concealed mineralised corridor beneath the relatively shallow Kalahari cover.

Uranium licenses

Only recently French company Orano announced that it has acquired additional year uranium prospecting licenses in the Northern Kalahari and Ghanzi areas with a three-year exploration project in the pipeline.

There are at least a handful of other early-stage exploration projects ongoing in this part of Botswana.

Let’s keep our eyes on the KCB.

Follow WhyAfrica on the 2026 WhyAfrica RES Road Trip as we make our way through the KCB into Namibia.

Image: Bringing in the Big Guns. There is a lot happening in the KCB in Botswana. Image credit: Leon Louw for WhyAfrica.

Leon Louw provides independent consulting services to investors, businesses and organisations seeking a deeper understanding of Africa’s political, economic, environmental and natural resource landscape.

The KCB gives Botswana hope