Mining Giant, Debswana Diamond Company, has come up with a long-term strategy to reduce its total energy footprint by moving greenhouse gas emissions per tone and waste by at least 20 percent by the year 2020.
The company is said to be benchmarking by using records of the company’s 2008 consumption levels.
Debswana, which has a mission to mine and recover diamonds safely, optimally and responsibly, said that the strategy will improve energy efficiency, enhance social equity as well as sustain the environment.
It added that the strategy was inspired by the growth of the company through its projects. It is this same growth, however positive, which increases the company’s energy costs and also puts pressure on the nation’s already faltering energy supply.
The company made a presentation of the strategy recently at Mmokolodi Game Reserve where it was hosting a workshop to debate, analyse and ratify its 20:20 Energy Conservation Strategy for formal approval and implementation.
Addressing attendants at the workshop, which was themed, “Use only what is needed”, Debswana Managing Director, Blackie Marole, said that in line with their mission, the strategy highlighted three important areas of focus, environmental sustainability, social sustainability and Business Sustainability.
““This requires Debswana to do everything possible to prevent or minimize, mitigate or otherwise remedy any harmful impact of Debswana’s operation on people and the planet, consistent with our company’s overriding goal of ZERO HARM,” Marole explained.
Over 70 participants from Debswana were amongst the invited guests in the energy sector from both the private and the public segments.
Guests such as Boikobo Paya, Deputy Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Mineral Energy and Water Resources, Alban Motsepe, the acting Chief Executive Officer of Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), Edward Rugoi, Director of Transmission from BPC, Charles Siwawa, the Chamber of Mines CEO, as well as the Director of Mines Kgomotso Abi were in attendance.
Also present was the Swedish Energy Consultant, Sten Stenbeck and Matsotso Vusi of the Nyamezela Group from South Africa.
