04 Sep 2014

The country’s sole operating coal mine, Morupule, is in the process of undertaking another expansion phase to meet the additional local, regional and overseas market demand.

The expansion followed successful completion of the expansion carried out to supply coal for the 600MW coal fired Morupule B power station.

Addressing the ongoing Palapye sub-council meeting on September 4, the mine’s business development manager, Mr Matthews Bagopi said coal is a versatile resource hence the mine has taken an initiative to explore various opportunities and tap into existing huge coal market regionally and overseas.


Morupule Coal Mine (MCM)’s coal is consumed mainly by Botswana Power Corporation (BPC); other consumers are Botash and BCL.

The mine was recently awarded a contract to supply coal to Southern Africa’s leading cement supplier PPC Slurry in South Africa, making PPC the second largest MCM customer after BPC.

He said the expansion will entail the establishment of an open cast mine which will among others assist in the supply of coal to the country’s upcoming brownfield power station, Morupule C power which will require additional coal from MCM.

“We have successfully delivered on the expansion of Morupule coal mine during the development of Morupule B power station and will do the same for Morupule C,” he said.Mr Bagopi said the proposed Morupule C project is going to be set up by an independent power producer who has not been identified yet.

The successful bidder will enter into a power purchase agreements with BPC outlining the tariff charge for power produced over the duration of the contract.

He said the coal that will be mined is deep hence the use of open cast mine to extract the coal and at the same time enable reclamation of land so that locals particularly farmers can re-use the land after.


He said the work will affect some farms near the mine as such the affected farmers will be relocated, adding the Environmental Impact Assessment is about to commence. Ends