Recognizing Lobatse Clay Works’ potential, the African Development Bank provided a loan facility, in partnership with the Botswana Development Corporation to turn around the company’s fortunes
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 10, 2025/APO Group/ --
The kilns are firing again—and with them, the economic hopes of a community. In the quiet town of Lobatse, southern Botswana, a decades-old industrial landmark is undergoing a remarkable renaissance. Lobatse Clay Works (LCW), a brick manufacturer that was once the cornerstone of Botswana's construction industry, has been resurrected owing to a strategic investment from the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org). The financing has transformed not only the company but an entire community.
Workers sort newly produced bricks at Lobatse Clay Works. The company has experienced a remarkable revival, partly thanks to strategic investment from the African Development Bank
A forklift operator at Lobatse Clay Works loads bricks into trucks for distribution into the local market and export
AfDB’s Deputy Director General for Southern Africa, Moono Mupotola inspects freshly manufactured bricks at the revitalized Lobatse Clay Works facility during her recent site visit to the project
Sample bricks on display at the revitalized Lobatse Clay Works facility
The revitalized Lobatse Clay Works facility resumes full operations with ambitious plans to reclaim and surpass its previous market dominance
“The buildings that shaped modern Botswana will rise again from our clay," declares Anthony Moepeng, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Lobatse Clay Works.
Founded in 1992 as a joint venture between Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) and American firm Inter-Kiln, Lobatse Clay Works quickly established itself as the nation's premier maker of bricks. For decades, its distinctive reddish-brown bricks were synonymous with Botswana's construction boom, during which schools, hospitals, and government buildings all showcased the company's craftsmanship.
But in 2017 the company faced a perfect storm of challenges. Aging equipment, production inefficiencies, and rising fuel costs forced the shuttering of the once-thriving operation, leaving the factory idled -- stripping the community of both jobs and identity.
African Development Bank’s Catalytic Investment Powers Revival
Recognizing Lobatse Clay Works’ potential, the African Development Bank provided a loan facility, in partnership with the Botswana Development Corporation to turn around the company’s fortunes, focusing on technological modernization and operational efficiency.
The Bank’s investment enabled Lobatse Clay Works to acquire state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment that dramatically improved energy efficiency. A new hybrid fuel system slashed production costs, while enhanced kiln technology boosted output capacity and product quality.
In 2023, the company, facing supply chain challenges and rising costs, secured an additional 48 million Pula (around $3.5 million) from the African Development Bank — bringing the total financing to 138 million Pula— to keep growth on track.
This substantial investment enabled the plant to reopen in 2024.
Beyond Bricks: Building Communities and Futures
The revitalized facility has already created 148 direct jobs with hundreds more expected in supporting industries from transportation to services.
The plant's output of three million bricks per month is high enough to meet domestic construction demand and serve lucrative export markets in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, generating valuable foreign exchange for Botswana's economy.
African Development Bank's Deputy Director General for Southern Africa, Moono Mupotola, stressed the broader significance of the investment. "This speaks directly to what we do at the African Development Bank. Lobatse is a small town, but almost one hundred percent of the factory workers are from the town. This project delivers on our High 5 development priority of improving the quality of life for Africans."
Most significantly, Lobatse Clay Works's revival aligns perfectly with Botswana's industrial diversification goal to reduce dependence on diamond revenues by strengthening manufacturing capability.
"Through the African Development Bank funding, we have been able to commit BWP 4 million towards the refurbishment of the plant," explains Benedicta Abosi, Acting Managing Director at BDC. "This has enabled us to restart operations and produce enough bricks for expansion opportunities into the region."
The company plans to expand from brick manufacturing to include tiles, further cementing its role in Botswana's construction renaissance and economic diversification efforts.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Brother Goth cut down on this 'His Excellecy;' and Honorble' thing you preface your news items with. No one uses them anymore. Just plain Somaliland Vice Mr Abdirahman Saylici met with …should do. This should apply to all politicians including the President
Good for development, job creation and good for recognition for Somaliland sovereignty. Anyone against is an enemy of Somaliland. Thanks to the Kulmiye government and specially the president and the Minister for foreign affairs yet for another mission accomplished.
Good for Somaliland indeed. Hope one of these projects is actually implemented. I bet moronic Berberawis wil demonstrate against this too. Fu7nny how they never demonstrated when Siyad Barre gave the Port to Russi and the mountains to North Korea. Not a beep.
Now they are all mouth.
Isaq waa gun guntuna isma indha buuxiso. Wisest words I ever heard.
kabocalaf
Dadka xaal sii. Reer Berbera hady gun yihiin, dadkoo dhami gun maaha.
Certainly, Berbera reversed to medieval era because of Ibhrahim-Dhegaweyne and his cohorts. I still remember the old days when Berbera was the only civilized city in Somaliland where all nationalities and tribes live together happily without tribalism and racism.
Haa Isaaq oo dhan ayaa gun ah. Guntu isma indha buuxiso oo wey isu urtaa sida orgida markaasay geesaha is dartaa. Markay Xayawaan kale arkaan xataa bisad jaanta ayey ka rogtaa!
Car mid reer Berbera ahi haka jawabo su'aashan: Markii Siyad Barre ina haystay ee uu Dekedda Berbera siiyay Ruushanka immisa reer Berbera ahbaa mudaaharaaday? Markuu sibidhka siiyay North Korea imisaa dhagax tuuray?
Ma arkeen(ma aha Reer Berbera oo keliya, ceebta weynnu wad leenahay) mid inaadeerkood ah oo Isaq ah markaasay giir iska wada kicinyaan oo dhbi lisanayaan.
War gun beynnu nahaee aan iska aqblanoo u yeedhano cid shisheeya ah oo ina xukunta kuwaasaynnu qiimeynne.
Waxa laguu sheegayaa reer Berbera qof buka ceeb ayay ku noqonaysaa in ay la tirsadaan. Ta kale sare laguula hadal oo hoos laguula hadal. Mayaadan dhego lahayn. Waxa lagu yidhi qof daciifa oo laga adkaaday ayuunbaa ku dul wareega qabyaalada. Sidee wax kaa yihiin ma biyo ajoobay mise biyo calcelis ah baa lagugu canqariyay. Reer Berbera xaqooday ka dhacsanayaan dawlada baa lagu yidhi sidii reer Caynaba ay xaqooda u dhacsadeen ee dagaalka ka rideen. Markaa raali ahaw lagula tirsan maayee.
Isaq waa gun waa gun, gun aan adiga ahayn kuma aragno halkan imika. Haddii aad ujeedo kale leedahay iska cadayso waa raganimo eh. Habeen wanaagsan.
Kabocalaf iyo Gulaidba waa isku hal qof oo magacyada badsanaya. Waxaan ku leeyahay kabocalafow waxxba kumaad hadlin hadaanu reer berbera nahayna xaal kaama doonayno sababto ah waxaad na tustay inaad caqli kugu filan aadan lahayn. Shimbiraha lalaayee ku dabaasha laydhaa ee laaleys baa ku dhaama.
Sharikadan la sheegayona hadii dani noogu jirtona waanu soo dhoweyn hadii kalena jidaafaha ayaanu u laabi. Siilaanyona waxba kama qaban karo sidii wershedii sibidhka.
Ta kale xasuuso 25% oo ah block 6 (oodweyne) inaad siiseen Ibrahim oo HJ ah. Intaydin siiseen reer yoonisna oo ah block 13 way soo bixi. Markaas inaanu foojigaanu oonu xaqayaga dhacsano waa nagu waajib.
Dhegihii baad iga gufaysaye aan kaa raaxaysto oo dhegaysto laaleeys ee hawada iiga baxa.
Siilaany, Siilaanyo. Siilaanyo has put on hold all efforts to seek political recognition from the world community. He even refused the valuable advice of some members of the European parliament who wisely advised him back in 2011 nt to limit efforts for the deplomatic recognition with only talks with the shakey weak and failed state of Somalia; but to adopt a dual truck foreign policy by fiercely engaging the international community for that politcal recognition in parallel line with opening talks with Somalia for the sam purpose. He blocked all efforts to restore the re-recognition of the statehood for the sake of filling his pockets and enriching himself and his family members at the very cost of the political recognition for our nation. The country under Siilaanyo the triator is in total collapse. Half of the country on the eastern regions is occupied by faqash remnats milita. Buuhoodle and Taleeh are no go area, talks with Somalia will never result in the two state solution, and every thing is at shambles. It is time to save the country from Siilaanyo.
I am afraid you are right Baaruud, unfortunately.
Here is proof of Siilaanyo's indecisiveness and weaknesses. Fiqi Fuliye community are pleading with him to honor the agreements that were signed in that famous public announcement made few months ago. Watch and see their pleas for yourself.
Tape starts in the middle. Rewind it to start from the beginning.
I do not know where all these hatred and crap chauvinistic triblism is coming. I live in Somaliland and specially in Berbera and we live in peace and prosperity. Had there been a problem we would have been the first to notice. Please do not believe what the politicians tell you, they are just competing to win seats and do not consider the consequences of their empty speeches. Let them not waste your time and each of you must try to participate in the development of your country and not destroying it.
You can criticize both the government and the opposition respectfully and be truthful in your accusation. Insults and counter insults have no place in our religion and not in our Somaliland culture. Berbera is for all and Saraar too.
Generalizations and stereotyping are the signs of ignorance. Smart people rebuttal ideas and do not hide behind a clan or attack a clan. Because someone from a certain clan has made a statement you don't like, it does not give you the license to attack a whole population. The mentally challenged ones are those who will most likely choose to attack people on tribal bases. Clannish attack is nothing more than shouting for help, because you feel helpless and defeated.
If you chose to blind fold yourself and selectively see only the clan of your opponent then you are a loser and deserve no public response.
Isaaq is Isaaq after all we have been thru and all the enemies sharpening knives for our necks do we really have time to be against each other? Calm yourselves down and think, when Somaliland prospers everyone prospers so solve your problems like brothers and quit this sub clan bs or we will end up like Hawiye tore up from the floor up