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Australian mining company African Energy Resources (AFR) has been granted a coal mining license in Botswana.
The company said the 25 years mining license covers an area of 51.47km2 and contains 650Mt of raw coal in measured and indicated resources.
“Granting of the mining license is an important step towards finalising the permits for the Sese integrated coal and power project, with the generation and export license being the only major outstanding permit required before the project can commence,” said Dr Frazer Tabeart, Chief Geologist at AFR.
AFR plans to use the coal deposit to develop an integrated coal and power project at Sese, 50km to the south of Francistown, Botswana’s second capital
Dr Tabeart said the approved mining license contains more than enough coal in the higher quality for the contemplated 450MW power project plus multiple expansions
“In conjunction with the previously approved land rights and environmental approval, the mining license gives the company, the right to erect all buildings and infrastructure required to implement the project.”
The approved Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) encompasses a project comprising a 1.6Mtpa coal mine, coal handling and processing plant, 300MW power station, water pipeline, access road, transmission grid connection, construction camp, and an ash disposal facility.
Botswana imports most of it electricity to close the country’s deficit gap and the AFR power plant is one of the projects expected to drive the country towards self reliance.
