Tsodilo Resources has retracted its contempt motion against Botswana Minerals and Energy Minister Lefoko Moagi for not complying with a previous High Court judgement regarding prospecting licences held by Tsodilo's subsidiary Gcwihaba Resources.
The company said that the issue had been resolved, as the five licences in question were renewed for their initial two-year renewal period, beginning on April 1.
Tsodilo had submitted an interlocutory application in the Botswana High Court, requesting Moagi to provide reasons why he should not be held in contempt of court.
In the December 15 2023 ruling, the High Court deemed Moagi's refusal to renew Tsodilo's prospecting licence 020/2018 as illegal, unreasonable, and irrational.
The company stated that he was instructed to renew the licence within 14 days and synchronise the effective dates of adjacent prospecting licences 021/2018 to 024/2018 with that of the renewed licence, both of which he had neglected to do, as per a statement released on January 23.
Tsodilo's application, which has now been withdrawn, aimed to have the High Court declare Moagi in contempt of court and be fined for every day the judgement remained unsatisfied.
Tsodilo has been following the International Finance Corporation's (IFC’s) environmental, health, and safety guidelines for mining since the IFC became a shareholder over ten years ago, progressing the Xaudum Iron Formation (XIF) project accordingly.
The XIF project is located within Tsodilo’s Gcwihaba project area, which includes prospecting licences for five base, precious, and platinum group metals, as well as rare earth elements.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
