Private equity firm Cupric Canyon Capital LLC is set to start construction of its Khoemacau copper project in Botswana in October, Reuters reported June 7, citing Johannes Tsimako, Khoemacau manager.
The project is initially expected to produce 60,000 tonnes of copper per annum, which will increase to about 100,000 tonnes per annum by 2023.
Tsimako added that he expects first sale of concentrate from the mine by 2021.
The underground mine is also projected to produce 2 million ounces of silver per annum over 20 years.
The company was planning to begin Khoemacau construction in 2017, but construction was stalled due to delays in securing environmental permits as well as uncertainty around power supply.
Khoemacau will be Botswana's lone operating underground copper mine following the closure and liquidation of the BCL mine group in 2016.
