The Zone 5 mine is a 4,040km2 copper-silver deposit in the Kalahari Desert.
As part of the A$800 million (US$556 million) work order Barminco will develop underground mine infrastructure, carry out diamond drilling and be responsible for production at Zone 5.
The initial production rate will be 3.6 million tonnes per annum of copper ore, with Khoemacau expected to further expand in the future.
Khoemacau's large and long-life mine development project will bring renewed life to the remote part of north-west Botswana, with the region scarce on people and jobs.
Ausdrill managing director Mark Norwell said Botswana was a highly desirable country to do business in Africa.
Cupric Canyon Capital and Khoemacau CEO Johan Ferreira said Zone 5 would be a safe, large-scale, highly productive and fully mechanised mine that would deliver high-quality employment and sustainable skills development and employment outcomes for Botswana citizens.
Barminco will head to site and start mining services in December of this year.
Barminco CEO Paul Muller said, as well as excellent safety, quality and productivity outcomes at Zone 5, success would also be measured by the creation of a highly skilled local workforce through effective training, skills transfer and leading technology programmes.
