Selebi-Phikwe — BCL Mine has asked its suppliers to give the company support for the mutual benefit of the two parties.

BCL Mine General Manager Montwedi Mphathi made the plea during a recent suppliers' pitso held at Travel Inn Hotel.

He said one of the problems that they have with suppliers is that when oil prices rise, they increase their prices but when they go down, there is nobody who volunteers to reduce prices.

He mentioned that he understands that suppliers want to survive but if they charge the mine high prices, they will kill BCL and there will be no profits for the companies to survive in future.

"You are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. 2009 has been a difficult year for us because of the economic recession and we have to work hard to achieve our objectives in 2010.

For us to be able to fund our projects, we have to cut costs and that is what every business does during this time," he said. Mphathi mentioned that the mine had to retrench 70 employees and noted that retrenchment is an expensive exercise and brings hardships to retrenches.

He pointed out that the employees that BCL retrenched volunteered because they had found greener pastures elsewhere. He mentioned that the management of the mine must motivate its employees to work hard to be able to yield good results and with the support of suppliers the mine would be able to operate until 2020.He said BCL is planning to expand its smelter in 2011 if the economy allows. "Suppliers have to bear with us because of the sulphur emissions from our smelter.

We are trying to dilute the gases and that is why the stark is high. When we started the mine we had a plant that captured the sulphur but the technology did not work for us and elsewhere in the world like Russia where it was used," Mphathi said. He explained that it is expensive for BCL to produce sulphuric acid because they are far from the markets. He said sulphuric acid is a dangerous substance and it is difficult to store.

Mphathi said they intend to partner with people who have the technology in sulphur. He said his company does not discard anybody or company.

"If there is a job available in BCL, and you are also registered with us, we invite you to tender. Our endeavour is to have good relations with you. If you deliver on time, the right goods, then we do not have a reason not to pay you," he said.

Meanwhile, BCL Public Relations and Communications Superintendent, Tiro Kganela, said most people including suppliers are not aware what BCL is all about.

He explained that BCL is no longer Bamangwato Concessions Limited but just BCL Mine.He told the suppliers that the mine does not want to be supplied with sub-standard goods. "We want to position ourselves as the employer of choice and we are getting there.

Our employees are proud to be working for this company and we expect you to contribute to its growth.

We have also introduced our new brand promise, which is: our mineral potential turns your world. You must ask yourselves what you can do to assist BCL to move forward," he said.

Kganela said the mine is building good relations with villages around Selebi-Phikwe using various projects, including donating computers, and assisting in the construction of ARV dispensing clinic in Mmadinare.