Tsodilo Resources has petitioned the Botswana High Court for an interlocutory motion, requesting minerals and energy minister Lefoko Moagi to explain why he should not be deemed in contempt of court for his non-compliance with a December 15 High Court order.
The High Court had ruled that Moagi's denial of Tsolido's renewal application for a prospecting licence (020/2018) was unlawful, illogical, and arbitrary.
He was asked to renew the licence within 14 days and to synchronise the effective dates of contiguous licences (PL 021 to 024/2018) with the renewed licence.
Tsodilo said the minister failed to comply with both of these obligations, and it requested that the High Court declare him in contempt of court and impose a fine of one day's worth of interest and penalties for failing to comply with the judgement.
If this is not possible, Tsolido requests that the court sentence Moagi to a period of incarceration, suspended under terms the court deems reasonable.
Additionally, the company requested that the court order Moagi to reimburse it for the continuous legal expenses it has accrued as a result of this issue.
“We believe the matter will be resolved in short order, and we can resume the evaluation and development of the Xaudum Iron Formation (XIF) project,” said Tsodilo chief executive James Bruchs.
Tsolido owns the Gcwihaba project area where the XIF project is located.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
