Shumba Energy says it has been given approval from Botswana government for its proposed coal mine and associated 600MW mine mouth power station at Mabesekwa power project. The Botswana Stock Exchange listed budding energy developer revealed it had submitted the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment EIA) to the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism and now it has been given the go ahead.

Shumba plant (Source Artists Impression from Norconsult)

“The Ministry has given its formal approval to the ESIA for the Mabesekwa Independent Power Project (“MEIPP”) subject to the compliance with laws and regulations of authorities in Botswana on 28 June 2016,” said Shumba.

It added that it had also submitted a Scoping Report and has received approval on the terms of reference for the Sechaba Coal IPP project station and associated 400 KV transmission line. “We are delighted to have received ESIA approval for the MEIPP, which is a major milestone in the project,” the company said.

“The ESIA together with the existing Water Rights, Surface Rights and completed feasibility studies bring us much closer to bringing the MEIPP into production.”

The Mabesekwa coal field is located some 60km south-west of the town of Francistown and 40km west of Tonota /Shashe, and is located about 40km west of the main railway and main A1 road transport highway.

The power plant will be located between 5km and 6km from the mine mouth, with a conveyor belt (included in Project costs) constructed by EPC to transport the coal

The project is also shortlisted in Government of Botswana Greenfield Coal Baseload IPP Programme which will be a parallel bid submission.