By: Creamer media

The company says these licence awards were the result of its AI-driven analysis of one of the largest private exploration databases in Botswana.

The work builds directly on the AI programme outlined in the company’s 2025 annual report and detailed further in its January corporate presentation.

Over two decades, Botswana Minerals notes that it has assembled an extensive geoscientific dataset covering about 95 000 km² of Botswana, including more than 375 000 line kilometres of airborne geophysics, ground surveys, soil sampling and drill records.

During the review period, the company says this database underwent advanced semantic AI analysis, describing the outcomes as “exceptional”.

This includes the identification of multiple high-priority copper targets in the Damaran Belt and associated terranes in north-west Botswana; a generation of polymetallic prospectivity across copper, nickel, zinc/lead/silver, platinum group metals (PGMs) and gold; and the refinement and ranking of diamond targets, including previously unrecognised kimberlite anomalies.

The company expresses that the award of the eight copper licences is the first tangible expression of this broader strategic repositioning.

The licences are valid to December 31, 2028, and provide the company with meaningful scale in what is becoming an increasingly active copper district.

The company has begun planning for close-interval geophysical and geochemical surveys to refine AI-generated targets into drill-ready prospects.

Botswana Minerals says discussions with potential joint venture (JV) partners are ongoing, reflecting growing industry interest in copper and energy-transition metals in stable African jurisdictions.

Copper, Polymetals, Diamond 

Further, Botswana Minerals notes that the board has consistently stated that diamonds remain central to the company’s identity.

However, in response to prolonged weakness in the natural diamond market and the structural rise of lab-grown diamonds, the company says it has prioritised capital allocation towards copper and other critical minerals where demand fundamentals are robust.

The company notes that Botswana remains underexplored for base metals relative to its geological potential.

It adds that existing copper activity in the country, including major operators and international JVs, validates the broader prospectivity of the Damaran and related belts.

The company says its competitive advantage lies in being a company-owned, AI-enabled dataset; clear and explainable targeting methodology; established relationships and operating experience in Botswana; and a disciplined model of partnership and risk-sharing.

Botswana Minerals says that the objective over the next 24 months is to build and test copper and polymetal targets through phased work programmes, minimise dilution through farm-in structures, and preserve optionality across the portfolio.

Additionally, while copper is the near-term focus, the company says its diamond assets remain substantial and strategically important.

Moreover, Botswana Minerals notes that KX36 remains a South African Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves-compliant diamond resource and a foundational asset within the portfolio. 

During the period under review, the company says it continued low-cost optimisation studies and maintained licences in good standing. AI work has also identified additional anomalies near KX36, strengthening the case for a broader kimberlite cluster.

New kimberlite targets, Maibwe 

Meanwhile, Botswana Minerals says the AI programme previously identified seven kimberlite anomalies, four of which have already been secured through licence awards.

The company notes that follow-up work is being prioritised, particularly in the Jwaneng south-west region, which exhibits compelling geological indicators. 

Ground surveys and target definition programmes will be advanced, subject to capital allocation priorities and market conditions.

Further, Botswana Minerals adds that the Maibwe JV structure was previously consolidated, and the licences were renewed.

The company says the project remains prospective, with known kimberlite occurrences and microdiamond recoveries, adding that work programmes are being reassessed within the broader portfolio context.

South Africa 

Botswana Minerals reports that the granting of the first mining permit at Thorny River marked a major milestone.

The project has defined exploration targets of 1.2-million to 2.1-million tonnes, modelled grades of 46 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht) to 74 cpht and diamond values of $120/ct to $220/ct (2017 values).

While current diamond market conditions do not favour immediate development, the company says the permitting achievement transitions Thorny River from evaluation to development readiness, adding that the second permit remains in progress.

Elsewhere in South Africa, the Marsfontein and Reivilo projects provide additional optionality at modest holding cost.

Markets 

Meanwhile, the company explains that the diamond industry continues to navigate a cyclical downturn compounded by structural changes driven by lab-grown supply.

It notes that manufacturing activity in India has shown signs of stabilisation, with major producers moderating output adding that, over the longer term, natural diamond supply constraints remain evident.

In contrast, copper demand continues to strengthen, driven by electrification, grid expansion and renewable-energy deployment.

The company says its diversification aligns with these macroeconomic trends.

Botswana Minerals describes this period as “pivotal” for the company, noting that it has secured meaningful copper acreage in Botswana; demonstrated that AI can materially accelerate exploration targeting; preserved a strong diamond portfolio for market recovery; and advanced Thorny River to development readiness.

“The board believes that the company is evolving into a modern, diversified, technology-driven, capital-disciplined, and strategically positioned exploration business in stable jurisdictions.

“The combination of copper growth potential today and diamond upside tomorrow provides multiple pathways to value creation,” the company says.