Proving itself to be a vital player in Botswana mining, we speak to Bokang Thitoyamore, CEO of Naledi Mining Services Company, about providing vital mining services for the management of the world’s richest diamond mine.
CREATING LIMITLESS MINING POSSIBILITIES
The Botswana mining industry continues to be an indomitable force within the international mining landscape, dispensing some of the world’s most desired treasures, including diamonds, copper, and nickel.
A vital link in this international chain is Naledi Mining Services Company (Naledi), who operates as a renowned service provider in the African mining sector, specialising in delivering strategies to key areas of mining activities.
Established in August 2022, Naledi started its operations in January 2023, providing labour and management for the Jwaneng Cut 9 project, as well as maintenance services for earth-moving vehicles and fixed plants.
“The company was founded with a focus on real-time strategy execution and robust corporate governance from the outset,” introduces CEO, Bokang Thitoyamore.
Since its inception, Naledi has rapidly grown to become one of Botswana’s largest mining services companies, employing over 1,000 staff.
A subsidiary of Debswana, the world’s leading diamond producer, Naledi contributes significantly to its success by handling critical aspects of the Cut 9 waste stripping of the Debswana Jwaneng Mine (Jwaneng), the world’s richest diamond mine by value.
Furthermore, the company’s experienced team delivers top-tier services, including optimised mine planning, drilling, blasting, loading, and hauling with diverse skills and knowledge across the mining process.
“The key to our success is improving efficiencies and productivities to deliver mandates safely and cost-effectively.
“Therefore, our focus remains to provide highly skilled human resources to the most inefficient areas in an operation, which would add most value to the process if improved,” expands Thitoyamore.
On top of this, the safety of its people, environment, and communities remains a cornerstone of Naledi. In aid of this commitment, the business has recently modified its mining contracts to include a hybrid model that has significantly improved citizen participation in local communities.
STRENGTH IN UPSKILLING
Amongst Naledi’s plethora of current projects, the company also plans to explore the realm of underground mining, which requires significant investment in new technologies and training as well as close collaboration with industry leaders.
“This presents new ways of working such as adapting to different mining conditions, implementing new safety protocols, and acquiring specialised equipment. However, we are preparing to meet these new requirements by upskilling our workforce and investing in cutting-edge technology,” informs Thitoyamore.
Currently, the company is upskilling eight mining engineers to degree level, with particular focus on underground mining. Two engineers have already graduated from the programme and are ready to put their skills to the test in the current mining climate.
In fact, upskilling is a central focus of Naledi’s expansion, particularly in response to current socioeconomic factors in Botswana.
“When developing our growth strategy, we realised that Botswana was very strong in production-related environments, but there was a need to upskill the engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) space,” Thitoyamore details.
To realise this upskilling, the business partnered with DRA Global to initiate joint projects and professionalise local workers in the EPCM domain. The collaboration also supported the development of human capital and the introduction of competition into the market, ultimately having a positive impact on end users.
Internally, the partnership with DRA Global also allows the company to develop its underground skills going forward and enables Naledi to stay ahead of the employee skills curve. This prepares the business for future changes in the industry where underground mining will be the main mode of operation.
More broadly, Naledi has implemented dedicated programmes and investments to develop staff expertise across every level of the organisation, from leadership to operative employees.
In the production side of the company, for instance, Naledi has trained over 100 housekeeping staff to operate machinery, 55 of whom have now become full-time operators.
“We believe that anyone in our operation can be upskilled to the next level with the right investment,” expresses Thitoyamore.
“Our goal is to position Naledi as the premier destination for mining expertise in Botswana.”
ROBUST RELATIONSHIPS
Naledi’s growing supply chain partners are critical to its success. Indeed, strong relationships with both international and local partners and suppliers ensure that the company has reliable access to high-quality materials and equipment.
“These relationships help us manage costs, mitigate risks, and maintain operational efficiency. It also helps create an increased understanding of each other’s cultures and businesses that enhance transformation and innovation,” Thitoyamore enthuses.
Naledi is also in the process of onboarding an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system to optimise its supply chain operations. The system will help boost engagement with suppliers and generate more opportunities and synergies for collaboration.
Additionally, the company has made significant strides in corporate social responsibility (CSR) through its recent partnership with the Botswana Football Association (BFA), developing an Olympic football programme to cultivate the country’s talent for the 2028 Olympic Games.
This initiative reflects Naledi’s commitment to sports and educational excellence across local communities. In parallel, the company has also invested substantially in supporting schools and encouraging learners to succeed.
“As a business, these investments go beyond building and maintaining good relationships with our communities. They are a testament to our vision of creating limitless possibilities for a better tomorrow,” Thitoyamore prides.
Going forward, Naledi’s key priorities include onboarding five new high-value clients and generating BWP1 billion in revenue by 2026 whilst expanding into new project areas and continuing to diversify its service offerings to meet evolving market demands.
“Our main future focus is on the implementation of our growth blueprint and creating pipelines to achieve the overall goal of our corporate strategy,” finishes Thitoyamore.
