JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – A scoping study has firmed up the viability of the Rukwa coal project, in south-western Tanzania, London-listed Edenville Energy said on Friday.
The scoping study, which was completed by Sound Mining Solutions (SMS) and published this month, showed the development of a small power-producing operation offered the fastest and most viable commercial opportunity to move forward towards production, supplying an optimal 10 MW of power to the local market.
“Just 35% of the current coal resource has been assessed and this provides sufficient fuel to support a 50-year power plant and project life span, through a straightforward openpit mine with a small footprint,” the company said in its half-year report.
The deposit had measured, indicated and inferred coal resources of 173-million tonnes for the three deposits evaluated, of which 57.5-million tonnes is measured and indicated at 17.42 MJ/kg.
Meanwhile, the company, which was seeking co-investors and partners for the development of the small-scale coal-to-power project, had tasked East African Mining and Energy specialist Rafco Group to assist it in sourcing a suitable fit for the next phase in its transition to becoming a power producer.
"The company is well funded to satisfy its immediate needs as it keeps a close eye on its operating costs. At the same time, we are maintaining a focused portfolio of licences in Tanzania and we aim to keep land-holding costs as low as practically possible as we progress,” Edenville concluded.