MARKETS

Tanzanian dreaming

AFRICAN coal player Edenville Energy has announced plans to progress its Rukwa coal project towards development with the aim of supporting a 100 megawatt coal station supplying Tanzania’s grid.

Noel Dyson

This development follows recent indications by the Tanzanian government of a commitment to start constructing the country’s main power grid during 2014.

Tanzanian government organisations have indicated the construction of the Western Power Line between Mbeya and Sumbawanga, forming part of the grid system, will start in 2014.

Construction of this part of the grid is expected to be completed during 2016, earlier than previously expected.

Edenville’s Rukwa coal deposit is ideally located to support a 100MW coal-fired plant to supply electricity to the Sumbwanga-Mbeya line.

A scoping study completed in September by Sound Mining Solutions from South Africa indicated it would be commercially attractive for Edenville to build a small power plant that would operate independently of the main grid and use only a small part of its coal resource.

However, the accelerated progress of the Western Power Line gives Edenville the chance to move towards development of a larger power station and use its entire coal resource.

Edenville’s management team is in early stage discussions with potential partners from Asia with relevant experience and expertise to develop the project.

Discussions are also underway with qualified engineering and power consultants who will guide the development process alongside Edenville and its future project partners.

This will include some early stage technical work, comprising large scale bulk sampling and metallurgical test work for wash plant and power plant design alongside completion of the Environmental Impact Assessment for a starter pit.

Edenville chairwoman Sally Schofield said the accelerated progress of the Western Power Line was a good opportunity.

“With a 100MW-plus power plant we believe we will have a sustainable long-term project that can contribute significantly to Tanzania’s future power requirements,” she said.

TOPICS:

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2023 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of current exploration rates, trending exploration technologies, a ranking of top drill intercepts and a catalogue of 2022 Initial Resource Estimates and recent discovery successes.