Tribute to Albert Milton, Debswana MD

The late Albert Milton, who passed on last week was the Managing Director of Debswana Diamond Company. A distinguished and legendary miner, Milton was a prominent figure across Botswana’s mining industry. His career with Debswana spans more than 25 years during which he has gained extensive diamond and coal mining experience at both operational and strategic level.

Until his appointment, Milton served Debswana as the General Manager of Jwaneng Mine where he has been credited for exceptional performance in various business areas such as production, safety and social performance. Prior to him joining Jwaneng Mine as General Manager, Albert was the General Manager of Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) for five years. Whilst at MCM, he led the expansion of the mine from a one million to a 3.2 million tonne per annum operation to meet the energy demands of the nation.

At Jwaneng Mine, Milton has overseen the safe and timely delivery of the multi-billion dollar Cut 8 project, which started producing ore to plant in 2016 and achieved bottleneck in 2018 as planned. Cut 8 was the first major contract mining operation undertaken in Botswana involving multi-national entities in partnership with local contractors, and achieved a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) of zero in 2017 at its peak production.

Debswana mine workers’ representative Jack Tlhagale describes Milton’s passing as very unfortunate, an occurence that has robbed the country one of its prudent leaders who understood the dynamics of the mining business and the workers very well. “His passing reverses the gains made by the country in citizen empowerment and localisation, particularly for strategic management positions,” said Tlhagale.

Milton holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Mining Engineering degree from Camborne School of Mines in England, and has also worked at Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines and Venetia Mine where he held various management positions. He leaves behind his wife Albertina, their two daughters and a son.