Mmamantswe coal mine
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The Mmamantswe coal mine is a proposed operation, part of the Mmamantswe Coal Project, which includes a 600-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in Garbone, Botswana.
Location
The map below shows the approximate location where the plant would be built, 70 km north of Gabarone.
Background
The Mmamantswe Coal Project is in south-eastern Botswana, an area that has been estimated to contain 895 million tonnes of probable reserves. The mine and plant were initially proposed by the Perth, Australia headquartered energy company, the Aviva Corporation. An EIA was approved for the project by the Government of Botswana in October 2012.[1] The EIA was for a coal mining operation of up to 10 million tonnes a year and a 2,000MW power station.[2]
In July 2013 the project was sold to African Energy Resources.[3][4]
In July 2015 African Energy announced it had signed a term sheet with an unnamed South African project developer to divest of Mmamantswe. Under the proposed deal, African Energy would sell the Mmamantswe project for an initial sum of US$10 million to the developer, with the option of another US$10 million if the deal is concluded.[2]
In December 2015 African Energy said it had entered an agreement where TM Consulting (TMC) will acquire the Mmamantswe project for US$20 million, subject to certain conditions being met. The most important condition is that the bid consortium wins a tender to build a 600 MW coal-fired power station for South Africa and takes this to financial close.[5]
In February 2016 Africa Energy said it registered a 600 MW coal plant with South Africa's coal base-load independent power project procurement (IPP) program.[6]
In October 2016 South Africa's Department of Energy announced that the successful bidders for the 1st coal-based IPP Programme were the Thabametsi power station and the Khanyisa power station.[7]
In February 2018, African Energy Resources said it continued to support TM Consulting as the potential developer and buyer of the Mmamantswe coal to power project.[8]
The October 2018 quarterly report of African Energy Resources noted that "The Company has executed a binding Share Sale Agreement under which it will sell the Mmamantswe Coal and Power project to TM Consulting (TMC) for US$20 million, subject to certain conditions being met, principally the financial close of a 600MW integrated power project."[9]
The January 2019 quarterly report noted the project "has been delayed whilst the parties review the recently released draft update to South Africa’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)." In addition, the Mmamantswe Prospecting Licence expired at the end of 2018: "an application for a further two‐year extension to the term of Mmamantswe Prospecting Licence PL69/2007 has been submitted to the Department of Mines."[10] The coal mine license was extended in March 2019 through the end of 2021.[11]
The January 2021 quarterly report noted the project still requires a large off-taker for approximately 600 MW to be viable. [12]
Initial project plans by Aviva
In June 2007 Aviva Corporation entered into a heads of agreement with Mawana Minerals (Pty) Ltd of Botswana to form a joint venture over the Mmamantswe Coal Project. On its website the company states that it will "spend $US0.5M over 18 months upon which Mawana will grant it an exclusive right to earn a 90% Joint Venture interest in the project by undertaking a Bankable Feasibility Study." The coal deposit has not been explored since 1983 but the company states that the earlier exploration indicated three coal seams between 30 and 110 metres deep.[13]
Despite limited information on the actual coal deposit, in June 2008 Aviva optimistically submitted an expression of interest to provide "1,000MW of baseload power production" to Eskom, the South African government-owned electricity utility, between 2012 and 2017.[14]
The company has stated that its "team of energy experts" charged with developing the Coolimba Power Station project would also help "advance the Mmamantswe Project".[13]
Project Details
- Owner: African Energy Resources (may sell project to TM Consulting, if TM can achieve financial close on the project)
- Operator: Mmamantswe Coal (Pty) Ltd
- Location: Gabarone, Bosnia
- Coordinates: -24.4020965, 26.5731812 (approximate)
- Status: Pre-Permitted
- Capacity:
- Mine Type:
- Projected in service:
- Coal Type:
- Source of financing:
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ "African Energy completes the acquisition of 1.3Bt Mmamantswe Coal project in Botswana," Proactive Investors, July 10, 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "SA investors bag another local power project," Mmegi, July 7, 2015
- ↑ "Mmamantswe Coal Project," African Energy Resources, accessed February 2014
- ↑ "CAPITAL RAISING AND1.3 BT COAL PROJECT ACQUISITION," Africa Energy Resources, 29 April 2013
- ↑ "African Energy Resources’ Botswana projects aimed at SA’s IPP coal programme," Mining Review, May 2, 2016
- ↑ "African Energy finalises Mmamantswe partnership," Botswana Guardian, Feb 11, 2016
- ↑ "Coal-based Independent Power Producer programme announcement," Department of Energy, 10 October 2016 (pdf)
- ↑ "African Energy set to export power to Zambia," Sunday Standard, Feb 26, 2018
- ↑ "Quarterly Report," African Energy, October 31, 2018
- ↑ "Quarterly Activities and Cashflow Report," African Energy Resources, January 31, 2019
- ↑ 2020 Annual Report, African Energy Resources, 30 Sep 2020
- ↑ "Quarterly Activities Report For The Period Ended 31 December 2020," African Energy, Jan 29, 2021
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Aviva Corporation, "Mmamantswe Coal Project", Aviva Corporation website, accessed August 2008.
- ↑ Aviva Corporation, "Power EOI Submitted to Eskom", Media Release, June 19, 2008.
