MORUPULE COAL MINE ENGAGES BR-BB JV FOR OPEN CAST MINING

In their quest to securing energy for Botswana and explore the economic potential the resource has in supporting the country’s diversification efforts, Morupule Coal Mine (MCM) recently awarded a 5-year mining services contract to a joint venture between Bothakga Burrow, a local citizen owned company, and Basil Read Mining, a South African based company. The contractor will focus on the development of an open cast coal mining operation at the MCM Motheo project.

Motheo is an expansion project established by Morupule Coal Mine to develop an open cast mine, a coal washing plant and associated infrastructure. The ultimate aim of the project is to facilitate MCM’s contribution to Botswana’s economic growth and transformation of coal into unlimited sources of energy. The project is envisaged to increase coal production capacity from the current 2.8 million tons to 3.8 million tons per annum.

The BR-BB joint venture (JV) will be responsible for the development of an open cast coal mine aligned with MCM resource development plan. The team will commence with site establishment and mobilisation in April 2021. Construction of the opencast operation will be aligned to the construction and commissioning of the coal wash plant, commonly referred to as the CHPP (Coal Handling and Preparation Plant). The CHPP is currently at structural construction stage with envisaged commissioning handover and first coaling by December 2021.