BOTALA ENERGY PROCEEDS WITH MINING LICENSE APPLICATION

Botala Energy is on progress to submit the mining licence application following the environmental approval for development of the Coal Bed Methane gas project in Serowe.

Recently, the company announced to its shareholders that the approval was granted on schedule and without public objections following appraisal of Botala’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which included comprehensive community consultations. This gave a greenlight for the company to proceed with commercial development of its CBM Project (Project Naledi) near Serowe, complete with over 100km pipeline from the wellfield to its proposed Leupane Energy Hub and

Industrial Park near Palapye.

Botala Energy Chief Executive Officer, Kris Martinick stated that Botala plans to develop the CBM well field. “It is in advanced stages of requesting conversion of some of its prospecting licences to Mining Licences, following successful CBM exploration.” Development will consist of well heads and gas gathering network of subsurface pipes connected to the Central Processing Facility within the wellfield for removal of water and impurities, gas supply to the proposed 20MW gas/ solar hybrid pilot in Serowe, currently under advanced planning as well as network of infield pipelines and service tracks.

He said two other EIAs are in their final assessment processes. These include developments of the Serowe Energy Hub and the Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park.

“The EIAs for these downstream projects are out for public assessment which is the final stage before awarding approval.”

The Serowe Energy hub will be designed to supply electricity to the domestic market and export into the Southern African Power Pool. Botala has been granted a Special Economic Zone License (SEZA) by Botswana’s Special Economic Zone Authority for the Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park for proposed manufacture of solar PV panels with Solar Finland.

The company also announced that application for the conversion of Prospecting Licences 356, 400 and 19 to Mining Licences is in progress.

“The granted environmental approval is a key consideration in approving this conversion, as is our about to be completed Feasibility Study. Botala anticipates submitting its application for a Mining Licence in January 2024.”

Martinick said they are excited to have recommenced operations.

“Awarding of Environmental

Approval is always a major milestone for any project. It reduces the number of remaining hurdles for development of this project.”