Minister of Minerals, Energy, and Water Affairs Ponatshego Kedikilwe of Botswana

Mr Kedikilwe said the mining fraternity was ahead of the game in finding better ways of conserving water and protecting the environment.

Mr Kedikilwe said given Botswanas mineral endowment, large quantities of water were needed to recover the minerals from waste rock.

Mr Kedikilwe said the technology provided potential to reuse the drier residue in mine rehabilitation activities, which included backfilling some old workings.

Mr Kedikilwe said the final residue, besides using it as a back filling material for old mines excavations or just storing it and taking environment that could be used for other purposes.

Mr Kedikilwe said the argument of biofuels versus food security could be analysed against the background of an individual countrys food situation or food supply and demand.

Minister Kedikilwe said the aspects that would need attention were a clear government vision, formulation of appropriate policy that would set blending ratios, pricing regime, standards, possible incentives and selective funding mechanisms.

Kedikilwe said his visit is an important symbol displaying the smooth development of relations between the two parties and the two countries.

Kedikilwe said he is convinced that this visit will further the understanding and friendship between the two parties and people, and promote bilateral reciprocal cooperation in various fields.

Speaking during a workshop on the local production and use of biofuels in Gaborone on Tuesday, Mr Kedikilwe said other biomass-derived fuels that could be exploited were production of bio-gels and bio-oils.

Mr Kedikilwe said the challenge was to increase biofuel supply while ensuring they were developed in a clean, sustainable and competitive manner.

In his 22-page statement, Kedikilwe said the South African government is committed to.

Kedikilwe said residents could partially reduce the impact of power shortages by saving their own money through reducing energy use; hence low power bills WOULD BE paid.

Kedikilwe was speaking at a press conference launching the Energy Champion Competition, organized by the Department of Energy as a first step towards creating energy saving awareness.

Kedikilwe said the competition - the only one of its kind in Africa - was similar to the European energy trophy organized every alternate year by the European Union since 2004/05, whose participants save 20 to 30% of energy.

Kedikilwe said based on the sample survey of six participating schools, it was estimated that they can save at least 160 megawatts per hour of electricity per annum.

Kedikilwe said besides energy savings in electricity bills, participating organizations would also compete for prizes.

On related issues Kedikilwe said the Morupule Phase 1 evaluation for 600 MW was being concluded and Phase II would soon follow; the project is estimated to cost P104 billion, and would provide 250 MW by 2010/2011.

Kedikilwe said the total budget of P9.

Kedikilwe said the budget provision for the pre-feasibility phase, which included EIAs amounted to P9.

Analysts say the dilemma for Mogae is that under the BDP's constitution, the president of Botswana is not directly elected by the people but by the party, and Kedikilwe is an influential member.

com] -- Botswana and South Africa remain committed to a downsized CIC Energy Mmamabula energy project, Botswana energy minister Ponatshego Kedikilwe said on Tuesday.

Kedikilwe says that roads and health facilities developed in Botswana to serve mining communities are also serving the general population by mutual agreement between the private sector and the central government.

Kedikilwe was among the 30 speakers at Capital Resources’ fifth Botswana Resources Sector Conference, in Gaborone, the objective of which is to enhance resources investment.

Botswana was negotiating an “accelerated” power programme to deliver more electricity “far earlier”, Botswana Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Minister Ponatshego Kedikilwe said on Thursday.

However, the capital cost of the coal-fired project had begun at a “reasonable” $6-billion capitalisation estimate, but then had escalated to $16,3-billion, Kedikilwe said in an obvious reference to the proposed thermal power station project of TSX-listed CIC Energy in Botswana’s coalfield close to the South African border.

WATERKedikilwe said the first of Botswana’s new dams was under construction to provide 414-million cubic metres of water to facilitate the water needs of the coal-bed methane gas project in particular.

Former University of Botswana (UB) Council chairman Ponatshego Kedikilwe has disclosed that he left the post to avoid a conflict of interest when he joined politics in 1984.

Kedikilwe is credited for the introduction of the UB Staff Development Fellow programme that saw the development of citizen academic staff.

Ponatshego Kedikilwe is appointed to replace Mogae as finance minister.

On the Shashe dam, Kedikilwe said the records show the dam siltation surveys were carried out first in 1987, then in 1999 and recently in 2006.

Kedikilwe was answering questions from Selebi Phikwe West MP Kavis Kario and Francistown South MP, Khumo Maoto.

Debating the Bill, Kedikilwe said it is one of the most important pieces of legislation, and said to mitigate against potential abuse, there should be incorporated a clause making it possible for parliament to impeach a sitting State President if it is established that the President abused the intelligence law.

Still emphasizing the gravity and seriousness of the piece of legislation before parliament, Kedikilwe said it invoked “balance.

Then suddenly, Kedikilwe received bad news that project promoters could not secure a turnkey contract due to a challenging and tight EPC market around the world since contractors are willing to enter underwritten deals by power off-takers.

Kedikilwe chaired the 1994 commission, which reviewed the education policy and came up with some recommendations.

Kedikilwe was responding to a question from the Member for Selibe-Phikwe West, Kavis Kario, who had wanted to know what effect the worldwide economic meltdown was having on commodity prices, particularly nickel, copper, cobalt and gold prices.