Botswana Guardian

Shumba to establish IPP

- Keikantse Lesemela BG reporter

Shumba plans to establish an Independen­t Power Project ( IPP) with 300MW under a Special Economic Zones Authority ( SEZA) Investment Licence to produce minimum 25,000bpd clean burning liquid fuels through its second Mabesekwa project.

The company highlighte­d in its quarterly report ended June 2022 that it is re- engaging Coal to Liquids ( CTL) technology and equipment partners which were involved historical­ly with the project.

“Before the Pandemic, Shumba secured a principal agreement and a term sheet for 100 percent of the project cost in 2019 money terms with a UK Private Equity Giant. Accordingl­y, the company is seeking to re- engage with these funders to proceed as originally planned.”

The Mabesekwa Export Independen­t Power Project ( MEIPPP) is planned to be a 600MWp minemouth power plant using coal from the first Mabesekwa mine for which Environmen­tal and Social Impact Assessment ( ESIA) and pre- feasibilit­y studies have already been completed.

The Mabesekwa Power Plant will be configured as a 4x150MW coal fired power plant with a minimum 25- year operating life with ability to expand developmen­t to 1200MWp.

Shumba Energy, Managing Director, Mashale Phumaphi said Mabesekwa No. 2 mine is planned to be developed to feed Ikaegeng ( CTL)

Plant. “As a result, Shumba is seeking to establish the project independen­tly with a 300MWp IPP under a Special Economic Zones Authority ( SEZA) Investment Licence to produce minimum 25,000bpd clean burning liquid fuels and associated petrochemi­cal by- products such as BT ( Benzyltolu­ene) for LOHC ( Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier) energy storage technologi­es.”

Shumba Energy’s Mabesekwa project area contains two elements, the Mabesekwa No. 1 Mine and

Independen­t Power plant to be developed within subsidiary, Kibo Energy Botswana Pty Ltd ( 65 percent owned) and the Mabesekwa No. 2 Mine and Ikaegeng Coal to Liquids Plant to be developed under the subsidiary Coal Petroleum Ltd ( 80percent owned). Circa 30percent of the in- situ resources c. 300Mt will be mined and used for the 600MWp MEIPP and the 70percent balance of the in- situ resources c. 560Mt will be mined and used for a 300MWp power plant and CTL liquid fuels plant feed.

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