Modern Mining October 2018

MINING News

Minergy awards contracts for Masama mine

tract for the washing plant has been awarded to Pentalin Processing. Contracts for the pro- vision of site and bush clearing, civil works, power reticulation, water and waste manage- ment, road construction and weighbridges are also in various stages of appointment. Bojé said that both Botswana and Minergy have a significant role to play in fulfilling the increased demand for coal, with 4 Mt of coal exported from South Africa to the African continent in 2016, which is forecast to rise to 38 Mt by 2030. The thermal coal price has also increased 33 % over the past 18 months, making it one of the world’s top five highest- performing commodities. “Investors looking to invest in coal have lots of opportunity now. The price of coal is rising, there is a deficit in supply and a strong demand, especially in the developing world, which is driving up the prices and keeping them high. In my experience, there’s never been a better time to invest in coal,” he said. He added that Minergy was confident that its production milestone of January 2019 for the final commissioning of the mine would be met, with the first saleable product available in February 2019. 

Andre Bojé, CEO of Minergy.

Minergy, the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE)- listed coal mining and trading company which is developing the Masama coal mine in Botswana, has released results for the year ended 30 June 2018. While Minergy is still in the development and exploration phase, with the results reflect- ing expenditure and investment in capex typical of this, substantial progress has been made towards full operational status. The com- pany had also invested in infrastructure during

the year, including offices in Medie and Lentsweletau in addition to its head office in Gaborone. Andre Bojé, Minergy’s CEO, said the company was pleased to report such satisfactory progress, which had been signif- icantly boosted post year end by the granting of a mining licence. Bojé said that the mining licence marked a significant milestone for the company. “We are now able to break ground and invite contractors to start work immediately as well as to actively engage the local com- munities about job creation and upliftment programmes, includ- ing improving the school and the clinic in the village closest to the mine, Medie, as well as bringing in electricity.” The mining contract has been awarded to Jarcon, a joint venture between IPP, a South African company, and Giant Plant, a Botswana company. The Build-Own-Operate-Transfer con-

Masama is located on the south-western edge of the Mmamabula coalfield in southern Botswana.

October 2018  MODERN MINING  7