Selebi-Phikwe

Selebi-Phikwe, mining town, eastern Botswana. Selebi-Phikwe is located 62 miles (100 km) southeast of Francistown. Situated in the centre of a large copper-nickel mine and a smelter complex, it was one of the fastest-growing towns in the country in the late 20th century, although its growth has leveled off since the turn of the 21st century. The copper and nickel operation, in which the government of Botswana had a 15 percent share, began production in 1974. Laid out as a fully integrated township with modern housing, electricity, and water facilities, Selebi-Phikwe was built for the mining community by the Botswana Roan Selection Trust. Funding in part was provided by the World Bank and other international development agencies. Roads, a railway, and an airport were built to link the town with Botswana’s main lines of communication. Pop. (2001) 49,849; (2011) 49,411.