--> Abstract: Opportunities for Coal-Based Ecological Industrialization in Botswana, by Mike Nightingale; #90082 (2008)
[First Hit]

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Opportunities for Coal-Based Ecological Industrialization in Botswana

Mike Nightingale
Nightingale Previous HitAfricaNext Hit Partnership, Vorna Valley, South Previous HitAfricaNext Hit

Coal-based Ecological Industrialization is defined as the rapid economic development of people, using machines for the manufacture or production of goods, with coal as the feedstock, and with concern for all living things and their environment.
Botswana has vast resources of mainly bituminous coal (officially 212 billion tonnes), currently mined only at Morupule Colliery ( ~ 1 million tonnes per annum); approximately 600 000 tonnes is consumed by Morupule Power Station, while the remainder supplies the local domestic market or is exported into Previous HitAfricaNext Hit for metallurgical uses.

Previously, coal was viewed simply as an energy source for the export market. Recently a number of Botswana Government-funded studies were conducted:

● National Feasibility Study into coal mineralogy, metallurgy, chemistry and energy
● Expanded Coal Utilisation project
● Pre-feasibility study into the establishment of an export power station
● Coal washing and briquetting
● Minerals recovery feasibility study.

These studies indicated that coal-based ecological industrialization could provide the energy needs for new economic and social development, facilitate an increase in electricity base load, reduce local power production costs, improve power export potential and derive mineral commodities, chemicals and coal by-products, including the use of clays and mudstones, for local and foreign consumption, thus earning valuable foreign exchange.

AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Cape Town, South Previous HitAfricaTop 2008 © AAPG Search and Discovery