Botswana

In 2024, Botswana was estimated to be the world’s third-ranked producer of natural industrial diamond (tied with Zimbabwe), accounting for about 13% of global production. Other mineral commodities produced in the country included copper, gold, silver, and soda ash. Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). The mining and quarrying sector contributed 10.5% to Botswana’s gross domestic product (GDP). Diamond continued to be leading export commodity in Botswana, by value, accounting for about 70% of the country’s total exports in 2024 (Statistics Botswana, 2025a, p. 20; 2025b, p. 10; Olson, 2026). 

The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Botswana is provided by Mines and Minerals Act of 1999. The Ministry of Minerals and Energy oversees the mineral sector, provides policies and regulations, and promotes investment. Most mineral commodities were produced by joint ventures with the Government, and privately owned companies. The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities. More-extensive coverage of Government policies and programs can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports — International — Africa and Middle East, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/afric…;

Commodity Review 

Diamond.—Debswana Diamond Co. (Pty.) Ltd., a joint venture between the Government (50% interest) and De Beers Group (50%), continued with the development of its Cut-9 expansion project at the Jwaneng diamond mine, located near Jwaneng. The expansion project, which was planned to begin production by 2027, was expected to produce about 9 million carats per year of rough diamonds and to extend Jwaneng’s mine life until 2036. Lucara Diamond Corp. of Canada also continued with its underground mine expansion project at the Karowe Mine, located at in the Boteti Sub-District. The project, which was expected to ramp up to full production by the first quarter of 2028, would extend the mine life of Karowe to 2040 and result in total life-of-mine diamond recoveries of 6.8 million carats. Lucara Diamond reported that open pit operations at Karowe are expected to stop in mid-2025. The company also reported that during the transition from open pit to underground operations, the production would rely primarily on stockpiles (Anglo American plc, 2024a, p. 14; 2024b, p. 129; Lucara Diamond Corp., 2024).    

Production Table

(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)

References Cited 

• Anglo American plc, 2024a, Half year financial report—For the six months ended 30 June 2024: London, United Kingdom, Anglo American plc, 90 p. (Accessed August 28, 2025, at https://www.angloamerican.com/~/media/Files/A/Anglo-American-Group-v5/P….) 

• Anglo American plc, 2024b, Integrated annual report 2024: London, United Kingdom, Anglo American plc, 352 p. (Accessed August 28, 2025, at https://www.angloamerican.com/~/media/Files/A/Anglo-American-Group-v9/P….) 

• Lucara Diamond Corp., 2024, Lucara announces updated feasibility study for Karowe underground project: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Lucara Diamond Corp., March 13. (Accessed August 28, 2025, at https://lucaradiamond.com/newsroom/news-releases/lucara-announces-updat….) 

• Olson, D.W., 2026, Diamond (industrial): U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 74–75. 

• Statistics Botswana, 2025a, Gross domestic product—First quarter of 2025: Statistics Botswana, March, 35 p. (Accessed August 28, 2025, at https://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/Gross%20D….)  

• Statistics Botswana, 2025b, International merchandise trade statistics—July 2025: Statistics Botswana, July, 21 p. (Accessed August 28, 2025, at https://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/Internati….)