Study on coal level underway
Botswana Geoscience Institute ( BGI) is currently conducting a study to determine the exact amount of coal reserves in the country as the current estimates of 212 billion does not correspond with findings from other research institutions.
In 1991 Botswana Geological Surveys, which is now rebranded to Botswana Geoscience Institute, recorded an estimated amount of 212 billion tonnes of coal reserves in the country. However, in 2012 Botswana Institute of Development and Policy Analysis ( BIDPA) recorded findings of 28 billion tonnes of coal. In his presentation During the ongoing Global Expo, an official from Botswana Geoscience Institute, Kewame Gwandu said the estimated tonnage demonstrates inferred, hypothetical and speculative coal resources. “Of this vast quantity, the majority is still classified as hypothetical or unrecovered resources. Only 45 billion tonnes have been classified as identified resources. BIDPA shows that Botswana has 28 billion tonnes of identified coal resources. These two values have triggered BGI to reconfirm the tonnage hence the current study,” said Gwandu.
Currently there are 58 active coalmining licenses in Botswana with only three mines operating. The only mine that is in the production state is the government owned Morupule Coal Mine. The independent mines, Minergy was recently awarded the production license while African Energy got its license in 2013. In 2014 there were over 300 coal mining licenses issued by the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources but the numbers have been going down to only 58 licenses in 2020. Gwandu pointed out that in its ongoing research BGI has found 25 billion tonnes of coal. He said the previous study, which was conducted in 1991, did not include most of the important factors. “We are currently using the international standards. We have measured the identified coal resource and found 48 billion tonnes. The study is currently ongoing.”
Furthermore, Gwanadu explained that most of the licenses were cancelled because the mines were not operating. However, he pointed out some challenges, which include, lack of funding, lack of infrastructure, noncompliance by exploration companies and lack of reference material.
On his presentation, Net Energy Managing Director, Mike Blenkinsop pointed out that Botswana should take advantage of the South African coal market as the coal resources are declining in the country. “South Africa’s coal resource is depleting. There was an estimated 20 million tonnes shortfall in 2025, so there is a big gap to fill. This presents a good market for Botswana”