- but says the matter is simply a commercial accounting dispute
Tataki Mining Company has moved swiftly to deny being insolvent following a High Court order placing the company under provisional liquidation last Saturday.
The provisional liquidation order was granted by Justice Reuben Lekorwe on Saturday, 31 January 2026, following an ex parte application Discovery Drilling Contractors Africa, trading as Grindwell Propriety Limited. The temporary order will return to the High Court on 20 March 2026.
In a statement, the company contends the application was brought prematurely before the Court and without notice.
Furthermore, it says the applicant abused the insolvency proceedings, as a debt collection and pressure tactic. Tataki says the debt in question is disputed and based on reasonable grounds.
“The use of the liquidation proceedings to force payment is widely recognized as an abused process. Tataki contends Grindwell elected to escalate directly to liquidation proceedings without completing the reconciliation process contemplated by the parties,” states the press release.
However, in response to the provisional liquidation order, the company said at its own accord, it will deposit the dispute amount into the escrow, without admitting liability, as part of a structured process to preserve positions pending finalization of the dispute.
Tataki calls on Grindwell to withdraw the petition and take all necessary steps to procure the discharge of the provisional order by the High Court.
The company continued to say that Grindwell legal action is an attempt to “exert commercial pressure to procure payment of amounts that had not been agreed or established as due.
The mining company further dispute this matter is an insolvency issue, but simply a commercial accounting dispute. It notes that the use of provisional liquidations proceeding in this case is improper and aspersive.
“In Tataki’s view it is designed to exert pressure rather than resolve a genuine inability to pay.”
On the return date of the legal matter on March 20, Tataki states it intends to avail evidence in Court to demonstrate that discussions were underway regarding reconciliation and resolution at the time the application was launched. It says Grindwell however chose to litigate over engagement.
Global Critical Resources (GCR) the parent company of Tataki mine states that it remains committed to its investment in the mine and Botswana. Since the re-opening of the mine in September last year, GCR have invested millions of in new equipment, refurbishing facilities, studies and drilling in the past three months.
“We are on track to meet all our 2026 investment targets, create jobs, and grow alongside Francistown and Botswana. Tataki will not permit Grindwell’s abuse of legal processes to disrupt its progress towards the reopening of Tataki mine”, ends the press statement.
