Property Booms Amidst Activox Suspension

Posted to the web 18 July 2008 Wanetsha Mosinyi It was announced last May that the Activox Refinery project being built near Francistown by Tati Nickel, a subsidiary of Russia's Norilsk Nickel, was to be postponed indefinitely. Francistown, which has been experiencing an economic boom as a result of unprecedented mining activity around the city and in northern Botswana, has been left uncertain about the future. Hundreds have lost their jobs, prompting unions to remonstrate. They even lodged an unsuccessful case with the Industrial Court. However, contrary to some reports, the Tati Nickel Mine itself is not threatened. It will keep producing concentrates, which are smelted into copper-nickel matte at BCL Mine in Selebi-Phikwe. There are still good prospects for the expansion of the open pit operations at Phoenix Mine, as well... [read full story]