ONE DREAM ONE TEAM - DEBSWANA’S FUTURE- PROOF STRATEGY 2024
In these COVID- 19 times, the mantra in corporate circles is that ‘ only the brave dare confront the future’ and that is exactly what Botswana’s economic mainstay mining company Debswana, is doing.
Through the aptly named One Dream One Team Strategy 2024, the mining giant seeks to fashion a company optimised to create more with less. This is what the strategy terms bridging, “the gap between our current state, and the dream of a new Debswana”. The strategy is part of the suite of present and future proofing initiatives through the Debswana Transformation and Innovation Programme ( DTIP).
Aware of its central role in the economy of this country, the strategy seeks to sustain that position as the economy transforms into a Knowledge- based economy. It envisions a company diversified, technologically innovative and anchored even more on partnerships than before to both deepen and widen its economic and social impact. This will require a new Debswana, internally and externally focused. The strategy in the short- term rests on pillars namely - Safety Environment and Communities, People Transformation, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Efficiency and, Productivity Improvement and Debswana Tomorrow.
The longer- term view positions its operations into a more technologically driven mining company, through an initiative dubbed, Future Smart Connected Mine. This focuses on delivering the following organisational capabilities; real- time workforce connectivity, connected mine assets, connected mine operations, connected mining, connected business insights, connected sustainability and future smart connected communities.
The strategic focus areas for the immediate future are Overall Equipment Efficiency, delivery of additional value, People and Digital Transformation, Implementation of the Building Forever Plan and Delivery of the Jwaneng Underground and Orapa Cut 3 Studies. On equipment efficiency, the company targets an ambitious 80% operation equipment efficiency goal for Orapa Plant Number 2 and Jwaneng Main Treatment Plant. Debswana’s intent is to deliver P10 billion Pula additional free cash flow, largely achieved through efficiency driving P101 initiatives, whilst ensuring safety goals are reached and equitable community partnerships. The People and Digital Transformation agenda will drive change and radical culture transformation while the Building Forever Programme aims at biodiversity, carbon neutrality and sustainable communities supported by the Debswana Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme ( CEEP) underpinned by a targeted Citizen spend of 20 billion Pula and a creation of 20, 000 jobs by 2024.
The company has set a goal of delivering Fit- For- Purpose Human Resource Capabilities for the study and operational phases of the Jwaneng Underground and Orapa Cut 3 projects.
While admitting that COVID- 19 has brought new challenges to the way of work, the mining company locates its strategy within a framework on securing the future, specifically through a fit- for- purpose workforce not just today but tomorrow. It calls on its partners to rally around these goals, and indeed take advantage of the opportunities that a new Debswana presents.
Debswana is adept at understanding the long- held maxim, “mosele- wa- pula o epiwa go sale gale,” Through Debswana Strategy 2024, the world- famous diamond- producing giant seeks to take the initiative and not just prepare for, but also rather create, that future.