Staff Writer
The Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) tannery is now 95 percent complete, with its official commissioning expected in April this year, signaling a huge step in Botswana’s drive toward industrialisation and economic diversification.
The tannery, which ceased operations in 2006 due to environmental concerns, is being revived under a P218 million refurbishment project aimed at strengthening value addition within the country’s livestock sector. Its reopening signals renewed efforts to maximise returns from Botswana’s beef industry by ensuring that by-products such as hides are processed locally rather than exported in raw form.
Once operational, the facility will process hides into wet blue leather, a semi-finished, chrome-tanned leather product widely traded on the global market. This shift from exporting raw hides to producing wet blue leather is expected to significantly increase Botswana’s tanning and processing capacity, positioning the country more competitively in the international leather industry.
By adding value at source, the tannery will enhance BMC’s overall output and contribute to reducing the country’s dependence on primary commodity exports. The move aligns with Botswana’s broader economic diversification agenda, which seeks to grow manufacturing and downstream industries linked to agriculture.
The revitalisation project is also intended to establish a sustainable hides production programme.
The renewed facility incorporates modern systems designed to ensure consistent quality standards while addressing the environmental challenges that led to its closure nearly two decades ago. A key feature of the upgrade is an on-site effluent treatment plant, which will manage waste responsibly and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
The government has emphasised that the environmental safeguards form a critical part of the project, reflecting a commitment to responsible industrial development. The integration of cleaner production technologies is expected to enhance both economic and environmental sustainability within the meat and leather sectors.
In addition to boosting processing capacity, the tannery is set to support the proposed Lobatse Leather Park, an initiative aimed at transforming Lobatse into a leather manufacturing hub. By supplying wet blue leather locally, the facility will create opportunities for downstream industries such as footwear manufacturing, upholstery production, and other leather goods enterprises.
Further, the project is also expected to generate employment opportunities in the value-added leather sector, contributing to job creation and economic revitalisation in Lobatse, a town historically anchored by meat processing activities. Officials say the development demonstrates government’s commitment to promoting job security and strengthening local industries.
Economically, the renewed tannery will convert raw animal hides, which is a by-product of the meat and dairy industries into durable and biodegradable leather products with significantly higher market value. This transformation maximises resource utilisation while enhancing returns from the livestock industry.
As completion approaches, the near-finished BMC tannery stands as a symbol of Botswana’s determination to strengthen its industrial base, promote sustainable production, and unlock the full potential of its livestock value chain.
