Selebi Phikwe

Selebi-Phikwe (also spelt Selibe Phikwe) is a mining town located in the north-east of Botswana. It has a population of 49,849 (2001). Nickel mining commenced in 1973 and has been the main activity since.

The main source of employment is the Bamangwato Concessions Ltd. (BCL) mine which excavates mixed copper-nickel ore from several shafts in deep and opencast mines. Ore is transported from the shaft by rail for smelting. Surprising to some the locomotives used are steam powered, having been bought from NRZ (National Railways of Zimbabwe) and SAS (South African Railway).

BCL only intended to stay in operation until 2010. The present high copper price is expected to lead to an extension of operations. It's not clear if new shafts will be opened, but the present shafts will be exhausted in a few years time. The mine used to, and may still, have the longest cable-belt system in the Southern hemisphere.