Integrated Battery Mineral Chemicals Manufacturing Facility
SECURING AFRICA’S SUPPLY OF CRITICAL MINING REAGENTS
The KBMC project is an integrated chemical manufacturing facility developed to support copper, cobalt and critical mineral processing across the SADC region.
Located in Palapye, Botswana, the complex is positioned near key mining corridors, enabling efficient supply to operations in the DRC, Zambia and surrounding markets.
The facility combines multiple production lines within a single site, delivering operational efficiency, consistent quality and long-term supply reliability.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
A first-of-its-kind integrated chemical manufacturing complex in Botswana
A CRITICAL LINK IN THE MINING VALUE CHAIN
Closing the gap between ore and refined metal
THE MINING VALUE CHAIN
Mining produces ore — not finished metal.
To extract copper and cobalt, the ore must undergo complex processing. This stage depends on specialised chemical reagents used to separate valuable minerals and enable further refining.
These inputs are essential to the entire process.
KBMC operates at this critical stage — supplying the chemicals required to move from ore to usable metal.
WHY IT MATTERS
Copper and cobalt are essential to electric vehicles, energy storage and renewable infrastructure. As demand grows, reliable mineral processing becomes critical. Without consistent access to chemical reagents, production slows and costs increase.
IMPORTED SUPPLY
- Sourced from global markets, primarily China
- Geopolitical and supply chain volatility
- Long lead times and complex logistics
- High transport and handling costs
- Supply uncertainty impacting regional mining operations
KBMC LOCAL PRODUCTION
- Regional manufacturing in Botswana
- Direct supply to SADC mining operations
- Shorter delivery times ~35% cost advantage
- Consistent, reliable supply
103M
Total Investment
2028
Start of Production
18 ha
Industrial Site
Palapye, Botswana
Location
2026—2028
Construction
195 permanent jobs
Employment
PROJECT DETAILS
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT IN PROGRESS
OUR ROLE
KBMC operates at a critical stage in the mining value chain.
We produce the chemical reagents required for mineral processing — enabling the conversion of raw ore into refined copper and cobalt.
By manufacturing these inputs locally, KBMC reduces reliance on imports, improves supply reliability and supports efficient mining operations across the region.