This is due to coincide with the Botswana government Coal Road Map Review, which is now scheduled to be presented to key stakeholders on January 31.

The review is a critical study that will examine the infrastructure required for the development of export and domestic coal markets, which are required for the establishment of a sustainable coal sector in Botswana, Aviva said in its quarterly report.

Aviva is earning a 90% interest in the Mmamantswe coal project, which is located 70km north of the capital, Gaborone, on the South African border. It entered into a joint venture with Mawana Minerals Pty Limited of Botswana over the project in 2007.

Since that time, Aviva has completed 21,000m of drilling, established an 8 gigalitres per annum borefield at Artesia, and completed resource, reserve, mining, coal quality, coal preparation and coal combustion studies.

Joint studies with Eskom and BPC have looked at transmission options for a power station at Mmamantswe.

Dual stage washing studies have confirmed the potential to produce 200Mt of export thermal coal and 150Mt of domestic power coal.