M a r k e t N e w s
Rukwa coal mine confirmed as suitable power station fuel source
Posted on : Wednesday, 10th September 2014
Preliminary economic and technical evaluations of mineral exploration and development company Kibo Mining’s Rukwa Coal to Power project, in Tanzania, have confirmed the Rukwa mine as a suitable fuel source for a 300 MW mine-mouth coal-fired power station.
Kibo said on Tuesday that the indicative life-of-plant for the Rukwa power station required 28.8-million tons of coal over 20 years, which amounted to only 48% of the current 60-million tons mineable resource of the Rukwa mine.
The remaining 52% of the currently mineable resource, combined with the remaining 35 km strike length of the Rukwacoal deposit not included in the resource, suggested a potential minimum 40-year life-of-plant for the Rukwa power station, with enough fuel left to sustain an additional 600 MW capacity for a further 30 to 40 years, Kibo added.
"We are delighted with the latest results of the ongoing work at Rukwa and the rapid progress the company is making at the moment.
“The progress made with Phase 1, Stage 1, of the Rukwa definitive mining feasibility study (DMFS) confirms the robust technical and economic fundamentals of the project and its suitability to support a 300 MWpower station for up to 40 years,” Kibo CEO Louis Coetzee commented.
The company further noted that the rapid progress on the DMFS accelerated the process to select and engage suitable consultants for the feasibility study on the Rukwa power plant.
Discussions were also under way to finalise heads of terms for power purchase, coal sale and grid connection agreements, the company said.
Source : Engineering news
