MM August 2016 Final

17 / 76

August 2016 MODERN MINING15
MINING News
Australia’s African Energy Resources
reports that First Quantum Minerals
(FQM) has committed itself to spend-
ing A$3 million on work programmes to
advance the Sese integrated power proj-
ect in Botswana. Additionally, a 12-month
extension – to 12 July 2017 – has been
agreed for the investment of the remain-
ing A$7 million required to complete First
Quantum’s earn-in for a 75 % interest in the
Sese Joint Venture.
African Energy says the A$3 million
commitment will be used to undertake a
number of programmes which will com-
mence immediately. These will include
additional large diameter drilling to collect
approximately 1 000 kg of coal for com-
bustion testing and physical handling test
work. This will lead to the development
of the fuel specification for the proposed
power station, and finalisation of the coal
handling and processing flowsheet.
Preliminary geotechnical evaluations
of the proposed power station site will be
undertaken to assess sub-surface condi-
tions with respect to footings for the power
station (boilers, turbines, generators) and
ancillary infrastructure while hydrogeolog-
ical studies at the mine site to characterise
aquifers will be carried out to allow mine
design and aquifer management plans to
be advanced.
In addition, African Energy will update
the environmental approvals to allow up
to 450 MW of power generation (staged
development of 2 x 225 MW units) and the
associated coal mining and processing,
update the mining study and start on pre-
liminary power station design and layout.
The company also says it will com-
mence early site works to include an
upgraded access road and preliminary sit-
ing of camp facilities.
The Sese coal licence contains 5 bil-
lion tonnes of low strip ratio coal. African
Energy announced in January last year that
a joint venture with FQM – which owns the
Kansanshi and Sentinel copper mines in
Zambia – to develop one or more power
projects at Sese was proceeding. 
Sese Joint Venture commits
to major work programme
Regional layout of key elements of the Sese integrated power project showing the outline of the pros-
pecting licence, ML application area and key infrastructure elements (proposed mine site, power station
site, water pipeline and transmission/grid connection).