JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Aim-listed Bushveld Minerals’ Lemur Resources subsidiary, which is developing an integrated thermal coal mining and independent power producer asset in Madagascar, has appointed an owner’s engineer and technical advisers for  the bankable feasibility study (BFS) for the Imaloto power project.

Lemur in October concluded an open market request for proposals process for all studies and services required in this phase of the project.

Following the conclusion of the process, Lemur has appointed professional services providers Advisian/Worley Parsons as the owner's engineer for the project. 

Advisian will provide reviews and oversight of the technical, financial and commercial aspects of the project, as well as interface with Lemur technical partner Chinese State-owned hydropower company Sinohydro on the BFS.

Worley Parsons is to oversee the completion of the social- and environmental-impact assessment (SEIA) in accordance with the laws of Madagascar and International Finance Corporation standards.

Worley Parsons will shortly commission a Madagascar-based specialist to carry out the SEIA. The selection process for a local SEIA specialist will be concluded this month.

Engineering consultancy services provider Energy System Planning, meanwhile, has been appointed as technical adviser to finalise transmission routing and mapping, as well as associated load studies for the project.

Lemur is further in advanced discussions with Madagascar State-owned water and utility company Jirama over a long-term power purchase agreement, with most of the key terms agreed.

"The appointment of an owner's engineer and other technical advisers is an important step towards the completion of the BFS for the Imaloto power project. The nomination of an environmental adviser demonstrates our commitment to comply with the social and environmental impact regulations in Madagascar,” Bushveld Minerals CEO Fortune Mojapelo noted in a statement released on Friday.

He added that the SEIA will pave the way for the company to proceed with major works at the project site.

Meanwhile, following Anthony Viljoen's appointment as CEO of another Bushveld subsidiary, AfriTin Mining, Prince Nyati, previously the project head for Lemur, has been appointed CEO of Lemur, effective November 9.

Viljoen, meanwhile, will remain on the board of the company as nonexecutive director.

“Overall, these new developments will ensure that the [Imaloto] project remains on course and they will also reinforce our commitment to delivering reliable, affordable baseload power to the people of Southern Madagascar and, in so doing, help to kickstart the unprecedented economic development activities in the region,” Mojapelo stated.