Kopano Copper Mine Intensifies Exploration Drive to Unlock New Resources and Extend Mine Life
Kopano Copper Mine Launches Advanced Airborne Survey to Expand Copper Resources in Botswana
MP Mining, the owner and operator of Botswana’s Kopano Copper Mine, has stepped up its exploration programme as it seeks to identify new copper resources and extend the life of the operation.
The company has launched a high-resolution helicopter-borne electromagnetic and magnetic survey across its Kopano mining licences, marking a key phase in its strategy to grow the mine’s resource base and support future production expansion.
The survey is being carried out by New Resolution Geophysics (NRG™) in partnership with Skyhorse Aviation. Using advanced airborne technology, the programme will map geological structures beneath the surface and detect conductive zones that may host copper mineralisation.
By transmitting electromagnetic signals into the ground and analysing the response from subsurface rock formations, geologists can identify potential mineral-bearing targets with greater precision.
The survey will also generate valuable geological and structural data, helping the company refine its understanding of the area’s mineral potential.
The initiative forms a central pillar of MP Mining’s long-term growth strategy. Exploration activities will focus not only on areas surrounding the existing mine but also on previously underexplored greenfield targets within the company’s tenure.
Findings from the survey will guide future ground-based exploration programmes, including detailed investigations and drilling campaigns aimed at defining new copper resources.
Located near the villages of Mosetse and Dukwi in Botswana’s Tutume District, Kopano Copper Mine has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years.
Formerly known as Mowana Copper Mine, the operation experienced several ownership changes and periods of closure driven by financial challenges before returning to production in 2021 after emerging from care and maintenance.
The mine was subsequently acquired and revitalised by the Dutch-owned Max Power Mining Group through its local subsidiary, MP Mining (Pty) Ltd, and rebranded as Kopano Copper Mine.
Today, Kopano is one of Botswana’s three active copper-producing mines, alongside Sandfire Resources’ Motheo Copper Mine and MMG’s Khoemacau Copper Mine, both situated within the highly prospective Kalahari Copper Belt in western Botswana.
The operation currently provides employment to more than 900 people, while a further 200 jobs are supported through local contractors.
Production is focused on high-grade copper concentrate, contributing to Botswana’s growing position as an emerging copper producer.
Historically, Kopano has produced between 25,000 and 30,000 tonnes of copper concentrate annually, making it smaller than its western Botswana counterparts, which have reported production levels of between 50,000 and 60,000 tonnes each.
However, the latest exploration campaign signals the company’s ambition to close that gap by expanding its resource inventory and creating a foundation for future growth.
The renewed focus on exploration comes at a time when Botswana’s copper sector is undergoing significant expansion.
Khoemacau is advancing a multibillion-pula development programme designed to increase annual production to more than 130,000 tonnes by 2028, while Sandfire Resources continues investing heavily in exploration to grow resources and extend the lifespan of its Motheo operation.
Against this backdrop, MP Mining’s latest airborne survey underscores the increasing importance of exploration in unlocking Botswana’s next generation of copper production and sustaining the country’s emergence as a major player in the global copper market.
