23 Mar 2026

Parliament has been informed that the Sese coal project’s small train pit was used for bulk sample extraction and not commercial mining. 

Answering a parliamentary question on behalf of Minister of Minerals and Energy recently, Minister of Communications and Innovation, Mr David Tshere, stated that the 15 000-tonne sample was used for power station fuel combustion testing and a trial coal export exercise via Zimbabwe and Mozambique. 

Mr Tshere explained that the mine was never commercially operational and was kept open for inspections by potential investors to demonstrate the coal seams’ thickness and proximity to the surface. 

He revealed that the project’s power was initially intended for export within the Southern African Power Pool, with 300MW earmarked for a copper miner in Zambia. 

However, he said Zambia’s state power company, ZESCO, introduced a 100MW ceiling on independent power imports, compromising the project’s economics. 

“The joint venture partner was pressured to divest due to shareholder pressure to phase out coal investments,” he said, noting further that African Energy Resources Botswana now owned 100 per cent of the project and had spent 24 months seeking new development partners and investors. 

He said upon realisation, Sese coal to power project was expected to bring long-term benefits to the community and Botswana, including local employment and economic empowerment. 

Member of Parliament for Shashe West, Mr Jeremiah Frenzel, had asked if the minister was aware of the coal mine operation 20km from Mabekwa, which was suddenly closed. 

Mr Frenzel also sought reasons for closure, potential plans for reopening and the benefits of reopening to the residents of Mabesekwa. BOPA