PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX- and Aim-listed Tlou Energy has submitted a proposal to the Botswana Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security to develop up to 100 MW of coalbed methane- (CBM-) fuelled pilot power plants in the African country.
The government of Botswana earlier this year requested proposals for the development of CBM-fuelled pilot power plants, aimed at assisting the development of a CBM gas industry in the country.
Tlou said on Thursday that if its submission response was successful, it would provide an ideal pathway towards a power purchase agreement.
Once the initial development is completed, Tlou’s gasfields would be connected to the regional grid, opening the possibility for the company to provide power across the Southern African region through the Southern African power pool.
“Preparation and submission of documentation for the response to the government’s request have been a mammoth task, taking many months to complete,” Tlou MD Tony Gilby said.
“The submission has described Tlou’s planned project in detail as well as outlining the benefits the project can bring to Botswana both directly and indirectly.”
Gilby noted that with CBM gas reserves, from which Tlou was currently generating power in the field, upstream environmental approval and a mining licence in place, the company was well placed to be able to deliver the project outlined in the submission.
Tlou holds the Mamba project, which consists of five CBM prospecting licences covering some 4 500 km2. The project is adjacent to Tlou’s Lesedi CBM project, where Tlou was granted a mining licence in August this year.