05 Aug 2013

Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources (MEWR), Mr Kitso Mokaila and Mr Nonofo Molefhi of Transport and Communications (MTC), Mr Nonofo Molefhi will, Tuesday, leave for Mozambique on official business.

A press release from MEWR stated that the ministers visited Maputo at the invitation of the Mozambican minister of mineral resources, Mr Esparanca Bias. The release stated that the visit would enable ministers to discuss bilateral relations in the mining, energy and transport sectors.

It also said Mozambique had expressed the desire to learn from Botswana’s experience with regard to the development of the mining sector. Mozambique was endowed with natural resources such as coal and natural gas. Mr Mokaila and Mr Molefhi were also expected to meet with the minister of energy to discuss progress on the Inter-Governmental Memorandum of Understanding on energy.

Issues to be covered also include, among others, acquisition of coastal storage for petroleum products destined to Botswana using alternative routes, cooperation between the two national companies, Botswana oil and petromoc, possibility of jointly procuring petroleum products in an effort to enjoy economies of scale for the two countries.

The release further stated that the ministers had been scheduled to meet with the minister of transport, to continue discussions on infrastructure development for the exportation of Botswana’s coal through Mozambique coast.

The two ministers and their entourage are expected back home on Thursday. ENDS