Botswana Power Corporations (BPC) says the Independent Power Producers (IPP) Greenfield for 300 MW coal fired project is at a planning stage.

The country is in a tight power situation as the Morupule B Power Station will not be completed on time and it wants to diversify electricity sources by taking IPPs on board.

The idea is to invite the private sector to participate, which will excite the market under the much waited activity on Botswana Government Coal Road Map aimed at advancing exploitation of coal resources in the country.

Botswana is sitting on known coal reserves of over 200 billion tones that have attracted the attention of international companies including Hodges Resources, African Energy and Jindal Steel.

CEO N.J Raleru says government is expected to call for information from the private sector soon, although the date for tendering is not known.

“I cannot give you an exact date to issue the tenders for IPPs, but I expect sometime soon for ministry to issue expression of interest for IPPs,” Raleru says.

African Energy and Jindal, formerly CIC Energy remains two coal companies that are waiting on the sides for government to issue an expression of interest.

According to Coal Road Map document, developing the country’s coal industry will take time; considerable effort and energy.

“Not all of the actions suggested can be carried out by the government alone and identifying strategic partners to partner with for implementing aspects of the coal roadmap will be crucial to the ultimate success of the coal roadmap process.”

BPC also announced it is working on the Extension of the 400kV Grid to the Northwest, which is at a Feasibility Study Stage. The project is part of the corporation’s plan to meet the growing needs of the mining sector.