Botswana gives enviro thumbs up for coal-to-power export IPP

Potential cross-border power-from-coal generation from neighbouring Botswana took another step forward on Thursday when Mauritius- and Botswana-listed Shumba Energy announced that it had obtained the official environmental thumbs up for its coal mine and associated 600 MW mine-mouth power station independent power project (IPP) at Mabesekwa. Situated in the north-east of the country, the Mabesekwa export IPP is seen as an early potential contributor towards easing Southern Africa’s electricity deficit, with South Africa the largest target market.