BOTSWANA MINING EXPORT PROCEDURE
Step-by-step guide to exporting mineral product from Botswana: which authority signs what, the documents you must hold, royalty payable, and where deals get stuck at the border.
Authority and royalty
Regulator: Ministry of Minerals & Energy and Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS). Royalty: Precious metals 5 %, precious stones 10 %, other minerals 3 %.
Border and logistics
Common exit routes: Sir Seretse Khama International Airport Gaborone (air, precious); road via Tlokweng / Pioneer Gate to South Africa for sea export.
Documents required
Hold every one of these before booking the truck — missing any single document means the shipment sits at the border.
- Mining licence
- Export permit (MME)
- BURS customs declaration
- Certificate of Origin (SACU)
- Independent assay
- AWB or bill of lading
- Bank of Botswana foreign exchange clearance for precious
Assay and valuation
Always use an internationally recognised assayer (SGS, Bureau Veritas, ALS). The buyer's in-house assay is for reference only — final settlement uses umpire assay clauses in the contract.
Common mistakes
Mistakes we see repeatedly:
- Not pre-clearing precious shipments with Bank of Botswana
- Routing gold via road when air clears faster
- Missing SACU CO loses preferential access
Frequently asked questions
How long does export clearance take?
In Botswana, typically 5–15 working days from application to signed export permit, plus 1–3 days customs at the border. Build a 3-week buffer into shipment planning.
Can I export without a refinery?
Most countries allow concentrate and DSO export. Some (Zimbabwe lithium, Indonesia nickel) now restrict raw ore to force domestic beneficiation. Check the latest rule before signing an offtake.
What if my assay differs from the buyer's?
Use the contract's umpire assay clause — a third independent lab whose result is binding. SGS and Bureau Veritas are the most-cited umpires in African mineral contracts.