AN ASSESSMENT OF RESERVES, PRODUCTION AND EXPORT POSSIBILITIES OF COAL IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES
BY
BRENT ROBERT SPALDING
SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
OF THE DEGREE
MAGOSTER PHILOSOPHIAE
IN
ENERGY STUDIES
IN THE
FACULTY OF ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
AT THE
RAND AFRIKAANS UNIVERSITY
STUDY LEADER: PROF. D.J. KOTZE
OCTOBER 1999 AN ASSESS ENT OF RESERVES, PRODUCTION AND EXPORT POSSIBILITIES OF COAL IN F ICAN COUNTRIES
B.R. SPALDING ABSTRACT:
Coal forms an important role in the energy balance of the world economy. Despite having lost market share to gas in recent years, due to its vast reserves coal will continue to play a massive role in future energy markets.
Up to now numerous studies have been completed on the major coal producing countries including South Africa, Australia and the United States. However no in-depth study of the smaller coal producing countries in Africa has been done.
This dissertation would first identify the coal producing countries in Africa, estimate the possible reserves of each country and with the use of maps show the location of these reserves.
Thereafter this dissertation will evaluate the infrastructure of the different coal producing countries to determine the possible coal export opportunities that exist in these countries. Factors influencing these export opportunities will also be investigated.
The study will include South Africa but it will in no way be the focal point.
A study of this nature will be extremely informative giving conclusions to the potential coal reserves that exist throughout Africa and will identify the possible export potential of this region. CONTENTS: PAGE:
INTRODUCTION 1 AFRICA COAL RESERVES BY COAL TYPE 3
2.1. ANTHRACITE DEPOSITS IN AFRICA 3 2.2. BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS IN AFRICA 3 2.3. LIGNITE 5
COUNTRY ANALYSES 7
3.1. BOTSWANA 7
3.1.1. EXPLORATION HISTORY 7 3.1.2. COALFIELDS 8 3.1.3. TOTAL RESERVES 22 3.1.4. PRODUCTION TRENDS AND PROSPECTS 22 3.1.5. COAL EXPORTS 24 3.1.6. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND 25 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3.2. EGYPT 29
3.2.1. COAL RESOURCES 29 3.2.2. COAL PRODUCTION AND DEMAND PROSPECTS 30 3.2.3. COAL-FIRED POWER GENERATION 31 3.2.4. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND 31 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
3.3. MALAWI 34
3.3.1. COAL RESOURCES AND QUALITIES 34 3.3.2. STRATIGRAPHY OF THE KAROO SYSTEM IN MALAWI 34 3.3.3. MALAWI COAL RESOURCES AND CHARACTERISTICS 35 3.3.4. COAL PRODUCTION 37 3.3.5. PRESENT CONSUMPTION 38 3.3.6. ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION 39 3.3.7. EXPORT POTENTIAL OF MALAWI COAL 40 3.3.8. COAL DEMAND AND FUTURE GROWTH 40 3.3.9. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND 40 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
3.5. MOROCCO
3.4.1. COAL RESOURCES AND QUALITIES 43 3.4.2. PRODUCTION TRENDS 44 3.4.3. FUTURE COAL PROSPECTS 45 3.4.4. COAL-FIRED POWER GENERATION 45 3.4.5. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND 46 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
3.5. MOZAMBIQUE 49
3.5.1. COAL RESOURCES AND QUALITIES 49 3.5.2. MOATIZE PROJECT 50 3.5.3. COAL PRODUCTION TRENDS AND PROSPECTS 53 3.5.4. COAL QUALITIES 54 3.5.5. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND 55 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3.6. NIGER 59
3.6.1. COAL RESOURCES AND QUALITIES 59 3.6.2. COAL PRODUCTION AND DEMAND PROSPECTS 59 3.6.3. LONG-TERM PROSPECTS 59
3.7. NIGERIA 61
3.7.1. COAL RESOURCES 61 3.7.2. ENERGY SOURCES AND PROSPECTS IN NIGERIA 61 3.7.3. COAL RESOURCES AND RESERVES 62 3.7.4. COALFIELDS 62 3.7.5. COAL QUALITIES 64 3.7.6. COAL PRODUCTION AND DEMAND TRENDS 64 3.7.7. COAL EXPORTS FROM NIGERIA 66 3.7.8. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND 66 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
3.8. SWAZILAND 70
3.8.1. RESERVES 70 3.8.2. STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY 71 3.8.3. COALFIELD GEOLOGY 71 3.8.4. MINEABLE SEAMS 72 3.8.5. MINEABLE AREAS 72 3.8.6. SWAZILAND WASHED COAL QUALITIES 74 3.8.7. COAL PRODUCTION 75 3.8.8. PROJECTS INVESTIGATED 78 3.8.9. MARKETS 80 3.8.10. LONG-TERM PROSPECTS 81 3.8.11. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND 81 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
3.9. TANZANIA 86
3.9.1. COAL RESOURCES AND QUALITIES 86 3.9.2. COAL PRODUCTION TRENDS AND PROSPECTS 87 3.9.3. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND 88 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
3.10. ZAIRE (DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO) 92
3.10.1. COAL RESOURCES AND QUALITIES 92 3.10.2. COAL PRODUCTION 92 3.10.3. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND 93 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
3.11. ZAMBIA 97
3.11.1. COAL RESOURCES AND QUALITIES 97 3.11.2. COAL PRODUCTION TRENDS 97 3.11.3. COAL PRODUCTION PROSPECTS 98 3.11.4. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND 99 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3.12. ZIMBABWE 103
3.12.1. RESERVES 103 3.12.2. PRODUCTION TRENDS 108 3.12.3. FUTURE COAL PROSPECTS 109 3.12.4. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND 110 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
3.13. SOUTH AFRICA 114
3.13.1 RESERVES 114 3.13.2. MINERAL RIGHTS AND MINING POLICY 115 3.13.3. COALFIELDS 116 3.13.4. COAL PRODUCTION 129 3.13.5. LOCAL CONSUMPTION 129 3.13.6. EXPORTS 133 3.13.7. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND 137 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
4. ELECTRICITY EXPORTS 141
4.1. AFRICAN COAL EXPORTS 141 4.2. SOUTHERN AFRICAN ELECTRICITY GRID 141 4.3. ESKOM'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE AFRICAN ELECTRICITY GRID 143 4.4 THE AFRICAN ELECTRICITY GRID 144 4.4.1. OVERCOMING EXPORTING COAL LIMITATIONS 144 4.5. ELECTRICITY GRIDS ACROSS THE GLOBE 145 4.5.1. OVERCOMING EXPORTING COAL LIMITATIONS 145
5. CONCLUSION 147 TABLES: PAGE:
1.1. COAL RESERVES AT THE END OF 1998 1 1.2. AFRICAN COAL PRODUCTION & CONSUMPTION 1 3.1. IN-SITU COAL RESOURCES SOUTH-WEST OF KGASWE LEASE AREA 12 3.2. SUMMARY OF IN SITU COAL RESOURCES BETWEEN THE KGASWE LEASE 12 AREA AND THE MORUPULE COLLIERY 3.3. SUMMARY OF IN-SITU COAL RESOURCES MMAMABULA CENTRAL BLOCK 14 3.4. IN-SITU COAL RESOURCES "SOUTH BLOCK-E", LETLHAKENG AREA 16 3.5. RAW ANALYSES OF COALS IN THE SERULE AREA 18 3.6. SUMMARY OF IN SITU COAL RESOURCES IN BOTSWANA 22 3.7. COAL DEMAND / PRODUCTION AND TRADE (BOTSWANA) 27 3.8. EGYPT - COAL QUALITIES 30 3.9. COAL DEMAND / PRODUCTION AND TRADE (EGYPT) 32 3.10. COAL RESERVES AND RESOURCES OF MALAWI (IN MILLION TONS) 35 3.11. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAIN COAL DEPOSITS IN MALAWI 37 3.12. MAJOR CONSUMERS OF COAL IN MALAWI 39 3.13. MOROCCO - COAL QUALITIES OF THE JERADA COALFIELD 43 3.14. COAL DEMAND / PRODUCTION AND TRADE (MOROCCO) 47 3.15. MOATIZE COALFIELD - COAL SEAM THICKNESS 50 3.16. MOATIZE PROJECT IN-SITU RESERVE CALCULATION 51 3.17. COKING AND STEAM COAL QUALITIES - CHIPANGA SEAM 55 3.18. NIGERIAN COAL RESERVES IN MILLION TONS 63 3.19. NIGERIAN COAL QUALITIES 64 3.20. COAL DEMAND / PRODUCTION AND TRADE (NIGERIA) 68 3.21. SWAZILAND COAL RESOURCES 70 3.22. MPAKA COAL QUALITIES 73 3.23. MTINDEKWA COAL QUALITIES 73 3.24. MALOMA COAL QUALITIES 73 3.25. MZIMPOFU RIVER COAL QUALITIES 74 3.26. MHLUME COAL QUALITIES 74 3.27. WASHED COAL QUALITIES 75 3.28. MHLUME COLLIERY - COAL QUALITIES 79 3.29. SWAZILAND COLLIERY COAL QUALITIES 80 3.30. COAL DEMAND / PRODUCTION AND TRADE (SWAZILAND) 84 3.31. COAL DEMAND / PRODUCTION AND TRADE (TANZANIA) 90 3.32. ZAIRE (DRC) - COAL QUALITIES 92 3.33. COAL DEMAND / PRODUCTION AND TRADE (ZAIRE) 95 3.34. COAL DEMAND / PRODUCTION AND TRADE (ZAMBIA) 101 3.35. WANKIE COALFIELD - AVERAGE RUN-OF-MINE COAL QUALITY 105 3.36. INFERRED RESOURCES FOR VARIOUS ZIMBABWE COALFIELDS 108 3.37. COAL DEMAND / PRODUCTION AND TRADE (ZIMBABWE) 112 3.38. SOUTH AFRICAN ESTIMATED RESERVES 114 3.39. ANNUAL SALEABLE PRODUCTION, LOCAL CONSUMPTION AND EXPORTS 131 3.40. LOCAL SALES FOR THE YEAR 1998 132 3.41. SEABORNE STEAM COAL TRADE 133 3.42. SOUTH AFRICAN COAL EXPORTS BY COUNTRY - 1989 TO 1998 134 3.43. SEABORNE STEAM COAL SUPPLY 135 3.44. SOUTH AFRICA PROJECTED EXPORTS OF BITUMINOUS COAL TO 2005 136 3.45. TOTAL PORT CAPACITY BY 2005 137 MAPS: PAGE:
AFRICA: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 4 BOTSWANA: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 28 EGYPT: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 33 4 MALAWI: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 42 MOROCCO: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 48 MOZAMBIQUE: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 58 NIGERIA: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 69 SWAZILAND: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 85 TANZANIA: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 91 ZAIRE: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 96 ZAMBIA: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 102 ZIMBABWE: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 113 SOUTH AFRICA: BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS 140 SOUTHERN AFRICAN ELECTRICITY GRID 142
APPENDICES:
AFRICA - COAL RESOURCES/RESERVE SUMMARY AFRICA - COAL LOCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUMMARY AFRICA - COAL QUALITY SUMMARY AFRICA - MARKETABLE RESERVES/TONNAGE SUMMARY ABBREVIATIONS AND UNITS
BP British Petroleum
CDM Charbonnages du Maroc
CV Calorific Value
DRC Democratic Republic of Congo dwt Dead Weight Ton
EDM Electricidade de Mocambique
EISCO Egyptian Iron and Steel Company
EU European Union
FC Fixed Carbon
FCCC Framework Convention on Climate Change
FOB Free on Board
GAD . Gross Air Dried
GCV Gross Clorific Value
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GJ/ ton Gigajoules Per Ton
!EA International Energy Agency kcal Kilocalories kcal/kg Kilocalories/Kilogram kg Kilogram kilotons 1000 Tons km Kilometer kV Kilovolts m Metre
MJ/kg Megajoules per Kilogram mtoe Million Tons Oil Equivalent mtpa Million Tons Per Annum
MW Mega Watt
NCC Nigerian Coal Corporation
S.G. Specific Gravity
SADC Southern African Development Community
SEB Swaziland Electricity Board tpa Ton Per Annum
UN United Nations
US$ United States Dollar
VM Volatile Matter
ZESCO Zambian Electricity Supply Corporation 1. INTRODUCTION
TABLE 1.1. COAL RESERVES AT THE END OF 1998 MILLION TONS
Country Anthracite Sub-Bituminous Total Share of total & Bituminous & Lignite Coal World Reserves
South Africa 55333 - 55333 5.6% Zimbabwe 734 - 734 0.1% Other Africa 5095 250 5345 0.5%
Total Africa 61162 250 61412 6.2%
(BP Amoco, 1999)
When African coal reserves are compared to world coal reserves, other then South Africa, they can be considered as insignificant. However with significant changes occurring in Africa over the past decade these reserves will make an impact domestically as well as on neighbouring countries. Later in this dissertation the international impact will also be considered.
TABLE 1.2. AFRICAN COAL MILLION TONS OIL EQUIVALENT
Country Change 1998 1998 share 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 over 1997 of total
PRODUCTION South Africa 96.1 93.4 92.6 94.5 92.4 96.6 103.8 109.3 109.4 116.6 118.3 1.4% 5.3% Zimbabwe 3.2 3.2 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.2 -4.7% 0.1% Other Africa 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.3 1.5 1.5 0.4% 0.1%
Total Africa 100.8 98.0 97.5 99.5 97.4 101.3 108.7 114.3 114.0 121.4 123.0 1.3% 5.5%
CONSUMPTION Algeria 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 - t Egypt 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.1 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.6% t South Africa 73.8 69.5 71.3 70.1 67.3 69.8 73.6 77.4 81.7 84.4 87.9 4.2% 4.0% Other Africa 5.4 5.3 6.7 6.0 5.9 6.7 6.4 6.6 6.8 6.9 6.6 -4.7% 0.3%
Total Africa 81.1 76.6 79.5 77.3 74.6 77.9 81.5 85.3 89.9 92.7 95.9 3.5% 4.3%
t Less than 0.05. (BP Amoco, 999)
Looking at the production figures of African countries, excluding South Africa, we can see that no real growth has taken place however it has remained constant at about 4,7 mtoe (Million Tons Oil Equivalent). It is encouraging to notice that despite the fact that production has not grown, consumption has increased steadily over the past 10 years by about 0,7 mtoe. Coal consumption in Morocco has also increased dramatically over the past few years.
Aspects covered in this dissertation will include:
The existing coal reserves throughout Africa, giving locality maps, in-situ tonnages, coal qualities and the exploitation of this coal.
The current role of coal in Africa, who are the main producers, exporters and consumers of coal in Africa.
Detail is given of the categories of coal produced (e.g. whether the coal is of high or low sulphur content). This plays an important role in the export market of coal due to the sensitivity towards sulphur contents, which exist, in major coal consuming countries.
The contribution of coal to the economic and regional development of the areas where coal is produced in Africa.
The export capabilities of coal from Africa to the European Countries (covering transport, ports etc).
The possible future production levels of coal in the various states in Africa, local consumption levels and where it is consumed.
The possible future production and export possibilities.
2 2. AFRICA COAL RESERVES BY COAL TYPE
2.1. ANTHRACITE DEPOSITS IN AFRICA
Small basins of anthracite are present in northeastern Morocco, as well as in the area of eastern Swaziland and in northern KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. The former is Carboniferous, but in the latter, Permian coal was upgraded into anthracite through the injection of dolerite.
2.2. BITUMINOUS COAL DEPOSITS IN AFRICA (MAP 1)
An overwhelming majority of African (and of other Gondwana) coal is of Permian age. Indeed, Karoo covers large areas of southern and middle Africa. The carbon-bearing Middle-Upper Karoo Ecca Stage, however, is limited to:
The eastern part of South Africa and adjacent countries.
The Limpopo valley and its extensions.
The Zambezi valley.
The basins surrounding Lake Malawi.
The upper Litalaba and other valleys in southeastern Zaire.
A majority of the coal accumulated in South Africa. Unfortunately most of it is non-coking; however, Wankie, in Zimbabwe, is a notable exception.
Triassic coal occurs in Southern Africa. Cretaceous coal measures appear in Nigeria, and the only major carboniferous basin is located in the Algerian Sahara.
Bituminous coal has only been found in Botswana, Egypt, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
3
AFRICA: ITUMINTOUS COAL DEPOSITS MAP L
o TUNISIA MOROCCO 1.
—.
SAHALR.S ♦ ALGERIA i -- i ..- - r .. . : LIBYA I. EGYPT \ X.
MAURITANIA ♦ -- ! \ i /.... k .... 1; i MALI ♦ r i i SENEG4 .. ^ > i NIGER .... .-- ■ / / •••••< .... CHAD T. –..1 f.,BURKINA / t ...... 1,11... SUDAN GUINEA GUINEA - ----• f: S..,....., : yASO ..,-1. \ ? -- BISSAU --'1 I '-'4- F . - 7'1 - / ! \ t ...... k. ,A. t• ! ! \ / NIGERIA (2 / r.1 SOMALIA j ..., IVORY i % • SIERRA 1 i i ` . ETHIOPIA i - .r.' --.1 COAST / 5— . LEONE i. i - .–- N ...... IGHAN /.'" CENTRAL •%-.1 N. .P---.1 LIBERIA j AFRICAN REPUBLIC...... :-.,‘ .• ♦ ....— N,' TOGO ....4 / CAMER00 1-1 BENIN 1.- / I X i ....; •-, i i ii i !UGANDY KENYA j GABON ( j "*---..... -...... ).'CONGOI. ZAIRE X.–I1 .‘ ...... - tv•-•om' \ ‘ TANZANIA \ r----, -: i t . .-:..,..c)c. MALAVVICe ---r•-•A. ANGOLA is ...... -1,:‘...... ,...j MOZAMBI UE 1 s ZAMBIA
NAMIBIA j BOTSWANA
SWAZILAND
\d • SOUTH AFRICA LESOTHO
SOURCE: LEA COAL RESEARCH
4 2.3. LIGNITE
Small deposits of lignite occur in many countries of Africa, notably in those that do not contain coal. The tertiary deposits of Nigeria appear to be extensive. It should be noted that peat is also abundant in the moors of High Africa and in the coastal swamps.
NORTH AFRICA
In Libya seams and lenses of low-grade lignite are found, generally interbedded with marl, carbonaceous clay and limestone. The Shek-Shuk seams, interbedded between clays and dunes, attain a thickness of up to 1,0 metres.
In Algeria, lignite in early Cretaceous sediments of the northern Sahara.
In Morocco thin lenses of lignite are found in Triassic layers at Skoura, in the Lias of Sefrou and Tamda, in the Dogger of Boulemane, and in the Miocene sequence of Guercif and Rhafsai.
WEST AFRICA
In the tidal creeks of Sierra Leone sulphurous lignite outcrops between clays of the Pleistocene Bullom Series. On the coast a 1,0 metre seam of lignite is found at a depth of 60 metres.
In Nigeria a 100 km long lignite belt follows a northeasterly direction across the Niger to the principal field. The early Tertiary lignite measures consist of a 6 metre thick main seam, 4 metres of argillaceous shale and an upper seam averaging 2 metres, covered by 80 metres of sand and clay. Numerous other seams occur in this field.
EASTERN AFRICA
In Ethiopia 1,0 metre thick lignite lenses are found in 10 metres of Miocene marls. A 200 km long belt of lignite deposits extends along the escarpment of the Rift Valley.
In northern Somalia, Eocene lignite shows at Daban, near Berbera, and Cretaceous material occurs near Onkhor. In addition thin lignite seams are found at Durbo.
As in Ethiopia, lignite may occur in the Kenya Rift Valley.
5 In Uganda, lenses of lignite are located in the Kisegi Valley.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
In Madagascar lignite occurs in the area of Sambaina, southwest of Tananarivo, three seams lie under shallow cover. A 0,7 metre thick seam dips slightly.
In southern Cape Province, South Africa, 13% tar can be extracted from the lignite of Knysna. Other occurrences are located at Albertinia, Phillipi, Strandfontein, in the Uitenhaage Series of Cape Province, and on the coast of Zululand.
6 3. COUNTRY ANALYSES
3. 1. BOTSWANA (MAP 2)
3.1. 1. EXPLORATION HISTORY
Coal was known to exist in Botswana at the end of the last century and exploratory boreholes were sunk near Morupule to investigate the known coal occurrences of that area (Molyneux, 1903).
Systematic exploration did not begin until 1948 when reconnaissance investigations were conducted by the newly founded Geological Survey in the then known coal areas of Morupule and Mmamabula. This work and the detailed follow-up exploration demonstrated the presence of significant coal deposits in both areas. Exploration was then taken up by private mining companies and in the late 1960s both Mmamabula and Morupule coal areas had been re- appraised by the Anglo American Corporation. The company explored the eastern part of the Morupule area in detail and confirmed the presence of coal reserves of sufficient quantity and quality to support a mine that eventually came into production in 1973.
Since 1970, interest in the coal resources of Botswana has attracted the attention of several companies and a significant area of the country has now been examined, on varying scales of detail, for coal deposits of possible economic potential. The results of exploration to date have confirmed the presence of very large resources of low-medium quality bituminous coal, which in certain areas responds to beneficiation to produce large tonnages of coal suitable for export markets. Coal with satisfactory coking properties has not yet been found. The one colliery at Morupule, while capable of considerably larger production, is at present producing approximately 700 000 tons per year which completely satisfies the local market demand, mainly the power stations at Selebi-Phikwe and Gaborone, and the smelter at the Selebi-Phikwe copper/nickel mine.
The coal exploration carried out to date in Botswana has been virtually confined to licence areas covering the sub-outcrop regions of the Karoo sediments along the eastern and southern margins of the Kalahari-Karoo Basin. The degree of exploration carried out varies from one licence area to another, but for convenience the following account of the coal resources of Botswana is described in terms of the original prospecting licences. The resources quoted have been calculated by a variety of different methods not discussed here: in general, a minimum seam thickness of at least
7 1,0 metre and maximum depth of 200 to 300 metres have been used to define resource areas. Proximate analyses have all been converted to a moisture-free basis for comparative purposes this has proved to be particularly important due to the wide spread in air dried and capacity moisture values. (Clark, et al. 1986: 2071/2072)
3.1.2. COALFIELDS
3.1.2.1. MORUPULE AND MOIJABANA
MORUPULE COALFIELD
The initial prospecting in the Morupule area was carried out by the Geological Survey in 1959 when a small area of approximately 25 km was investigated along the eastern boundary of the coalfield.
The Anglo American Corporation carried out a detailed investigation at Morupule in 1970 and confirmed the existence of mineable seams which led eventually to the establishment of the Morupule Colliery in 1973.
Shell Coal Botswana has prospected the area west of this mining lease in detail (1977, 1979, 1982 and 1983). It was established that considerable resources of medium ash bituminous coal existed in the Morupule and adjacent Moijabana areas in westward continuations of the same seams recognised near the Morupule Colliery. Shell Coal Botswana conducted a detailed feasibility study for the production of 5 to 10 million sales tons of export quality steam coal from a lease area to the west of Morupule Colliery, known as Kgaswe, but at that time, the route to the sea proved to expensive and the project was shelved.
The main north-south railway line lies a short distance to the east of the coal areas. There is a short railway linking Morupule Colliery with the main line at Palapye and the Serowe to Palapye main road crosses the Morupule Coalfield. o The overlying Morupule Formation of the Ecca Group consists of an approximately 60 metre thick sequence of carbonaceous clays and coals with some locally developed sandstone. At the base of the Morupule Formation there is a well-developed coal seam known as the Morupule Main; it is this seam that is being extracted at Morupule Colliery.
8 The succeeding Serowe Formation consists of a lower, laterally persistent siltstone horizon overlain by some 30 metres of carbonaceous clay and coal. The coals in the Serowe Formation, for the most part are poorly developed, but near the top of the formation is one seam (called the Serowe Bright) containing bright coal that is of possible economic importance. Sediments of the Tlhabala Formation which, in turn are overlain by the Lebung Group, conformably overlie the Serowe Formation. The largely unconsolidated Kalahari beds cover the Karoo Sequence and vary in thickness from a few metres to more than 40 metres.
The thickest and most consistently developed coal seams containing the best quality coal so far found occur in the Morupule Coalfield. Three seams of economic potential have been recognised, of which only the Morupule Main Seam is being exploited at the Morupule Colliery.
The Morupule Main Seam is laterally persistent over a very wide area. Throughout most of the area the seam maintains a thickness of between 6,5 and 9,5 metres. It thins towards the northern and southern limits, where the seam thickness decreases to about 1,0 metre. Along the eastern boundary of the coalfield the coal seam lies within 40 metres of the surface. The seam in this sub-outcrop zone is weathered, but westwards it lies at greater depths of more than 300 metres and with a thickness in the order of 6,0 metres.
Some 7 to 10 metres above the Morupule Main Seam a carbonaceous sequence is present, which locally contains poor quality coals. Although these coals are in places of mineable thickness, their patchy distribution and low quality do not render them of economic interest and they are, therefore, not included in the resource estimates.
The Lotsane is the next seam of economic interest; it lies some 30 to 60 metres above the Morupule Main Seam. This seam occurs at the top of the carbonaceous sequence within the upper part of the Morupule Formation. It varies in thickness from 0,6 to 4,5 metres and the proportion of coal and sterile parting varies greatly. The coal quality is less consistent than that of the Morupule Main Seam: it is a mixed mainly bright coal with a high ash content due to the many dirt bands, resulting in a lower calorific value of the raw coal than the Morupule Main Seam. West of the Morupule area boreholes have intersected the seam at depths of more than 250 metres.
The Serowe Bright Seam is separated from the underlying Lotsane Seam by some 50 metres of siltstones, carbonaceous shales and thin coal bands. The seam lies at the top of the Serowe Formation, averages 1,8 metres in thickness and comprises two or three bands of
9 mainly bright • coal separated by thin, laterally extensive, claystone horizons. The seam appears to thin towards the north and south, but it maintains a mineable thickness over a large area. Although the calorific value of this coal is similar to the Morupule Main Seam and has a high volatile content, it also has a high sulphur content and therefore, the seam is less attractive for the production of steam coal than the underlying seams. Because of the high volatile content this coal has been investigated as a potential coking coal. Over most of the area, however, the Free Swelling Index and Roga Index are far below the accepted requirements. In the few localities where these values are acceptable, the sulphur content is as high as 2,5% in the 1,4 S.G. float fraction, thus making the coal unattractive for metallurgical purposes.
The coal resources of the Morupule Coalfield are estimated for three separate areas. The first area is that reported by Shell Coal Botswana (1983) which comprises most of the coalfield outside the Kgaswe Lease area to the south-west and between this lease area and the Morupule Colliery to the east. A total of 4 980 million tons has been indicated from an intensive drilling programme of 84 boreholes or approximately 1 per kilometer squared. Nearly 50% of this resource tonnage may actually be classified as proven reserves. o The raw coal quality given as global averages in Tables 3.1. and 3.2. conceal the presence of significant quality variations within this part of the coalfield. Nevertheless the major portion of these resources are probably suitable for domestic consumption. o Capacity moisture tests on coal samples for these three seams show a range of values from 5 to 7,5% with the highest values occurring in coal between the Kgaswe Lease area and the Morupule Colliery. The implication of high capacity moisture values is to downgrade the export potential of washed coal because, to achieve the required specification, the coal must be washed at a lower density giving a lower yield. In the areas described here very little of this resource reaches international market specification when washed at S.G. 1,5 and the yields are rather low.
It is not possible at this stage to discuss reserves and quality within the Kgaswe Lease area. However, by extrapolation from known areas outside the lease boundaries it is estimated that resources of at least 2 840 million tons are present. This figure is derived by applying the smaller of the average thickness and S.G. values given in Tables 3.1. and 3.2. and assuming the resource area is equal to the lease area of 200 km.
10 The total then comprises:
1 800 million tons of Morupule Main.
570 million tons of Lotsane and
470 million tons of Serowe Bright.
It is also not unreasonable to assume that the coal quality in the lease area is at least as good as the best coal immediately adjacent to the lease. The third area of coal in the Morupule Coalfield is that contained within the boundaries of the Morupule Colliery. The quantity of Lotsane and Serowe Bright coal in this area is negligible due to their proximity to sub-outcrop. It may be assumed that the Morupule Main seam is at least as thick as for the area given in Table 3.2. and therefore, it is estimated that about 90 million tons of coal from this seam may be added to the resource.
The total resource for the Morupule Coalfield is, therefore, in the order of 7 910 million tons of bituminous coal with medium ash content and medium calorific value.
MOIJABANA COALFIELD
Further west, in the Moijabana area, the coal-bearing zones contain mainly very thin seams. Only in the southwest, within the other main depositional basin, are some relatively thick coal seams to be found in rocks of the Morupule Formation. The quality of the coal is, however, generally inferior to that in the Morupule area. Resources of 1 295 million tons have been located in three seams in this area by Shell Coal Botswana (1977 and 1979).
The seam in the lower part of the Ecca Group (Kamotaka Formation), at a stratigraphic level below that of the Morupule Main Seam in the Morupule area, varies in thickness from less than 1,0 metre to more than 4,0 metres. This seam contains some 300 million tons, with a high ash content of 29%, a calorific value 20 MJ/kg and has a very poor yield for washed coal.
The Basal seam of the carbonaceous sequence in the middle of the Ecca Group (Morupule Formation) contains approximately 420 million tons of coal; this seam locally reaches a thickness of 2,0 metres, but averages only about 1,0 metre. The quality is better than for the underlying seam but the thickness is probably less than an economic mining thickness.
I1 Similarly a thin coal seam in the Serowe Formation, rarely exceeding 1,0 metre, is estimated to contain 575 million tons of coal.
All the coal resources of the Moijabana area are inferior in quality to that found at Morupule and it is doubtful if any are of economic significance within the near to mid-term future.
TABLE 3.1. IN-SITU COAL RESOURCES SOUTH-WEST OF KGASWE LEASE AREA
Seam Serowe Bright Lotsane Morupule Main
Average Thickness (m) 1.61 1.72 5.91 Average S.G. 1.62 1.65 1.56 In-situ Tonnage (kilotons) 437 199 777 164 2 679 415
Raw Ash % 32.3 36.3 25.4 Volatiles % 31.8 26.1 23.3 GCV (MJ/kg) 20.73 19.59 23.08 Sulphur % 6.45 2.35 1.52
Washed Yield % 52.0 43.1 47.4 Cum Ash % 14.7 12.9 13.5 Float @ Volatiles % 37.8 34.7 26.7 1.5 S.G.GCV (MJ/kg) 27.61 28.28 27.77 Sulphur % 2.64 0.72 0.41 N.B. All tonnage estimates have been reduced by 5 to 15% because of numerous dolerite dykes. Quality is reported moisture free.
TABLE 3.2. SUMMARY OF IN-SITU COAL RESOURCES BETWEEN THE KGASWE LEASE AREA AND THE MORUPULE COLLIERY
Seam Serowe Bright Lotsane Morupule Main
Average Thickness (m) 2.43 2.71 8.70 Average S.G. 1.47 1.65 1.53 In-situ Tonnage (KILOTONS) 40 807 235 518 811 148
Raw Ash % 22.3 37.3 21.1 Volatiles % 32.4 26.2 24.3 GCV (MJ/kg) 24.88 19.17 24.41 Sulphur % 1.91 1.48 1.44
Washed Yield % 70.7 35.0 48.2 Cum Float Ash % 13.0 13.4 11.7 @ 1.5 SG Volatiles % 36.2 34.9 26.5 GCV (MJ/kg) 28.23 27.94 28.32 Sulphur % 0.97 0.87 0.31
PRODUCTION FROM THESE COALFIELDS
At the present time only the Morupule Main Seam of the Morupule area is being exploited from the only colliery in the country, situated at Morupule. The coal is being mined by a conventional
12 underground bord and pillar operation, but the mine has been designed in such a manner that it can be converted at any time from an underground operation into an opencast mine. Access to the workings is through three portals in the coal seam at the bottom of a box-cut, which would be utilised if an opencast working is brought into operation. At present, the mine is producing some 0,9 million tons of raw coal per year, which fully satisfies the domestic market.
3.1.2.2. MMAMABULA COALFIELD
Detailed prospecting has been carried out in the Mmamabula area situated approximately 130 km south of Morupule. The area is crossed by the north-south railway line and is quite undeveloped.
The coal resources at Mmamabula were studied in some detail by the Geological Survey in 1961. Following an initial reconnaissance programme covering some 500 km 2, detailed work was confined to a small central area of approximately 50 km 2 in which significant reserves of coal were proved.
The Anglo American Corporation re-evaluated the work already done in 1975, but carried out no new prospecting. .
Shell Coal Botswana (1982) conducted a detailed exploration of the Central area, but relinquished the licence after one year.
Amax, BP Coal Botswana and Charbonnages de France prospected the Greater Mmamabula Coalfield, from Mosomane in the south to the Limpopo River in the east, but in all cases, the prospecting licenses were relinquished.
The coals are restricted to the Ecca Group. In the west of the coal area, the Karoo sediments are overlain by Kalahari Beds up to 15 metres thick, but to the east the rocks sub-outcrop and are covered by only thin superficial sediments. In the Mmamabula area several major faults affect the Karoo strata; the northern limit of the coalfield is defined by the east-north-east-trending Zoetfontein Fault which has a downthrow to the north of at least 250 metres.
Drilling has demonstrated the continuity of coal-bearing strata to the north of the fault, but no detailed data is available. A later generation of north-west-south-east-trending faults cut the
13 Karoo strata into fault-bounded blocks and it is convenient to describe the coal resources south of the Zoetfontein Fault in terms of these separate structural units.
Within the Central Block 190 boreholes have been drilled over an area of 44 km 2. Most of the boreholes encountered coal and confirmed the presence of three seams of possible economic interest located within the Mmamabula and Mosomane formations. The general configuration of the coal-bearing strata in the Central Block is basin shaped, which dips more or less horizontal, but becoming steeper near the area of sub-outcrop and in a narrow zone adjacent to the Mabuane Fault which defines the western limit of the block. o The lowest of the three important seams, the Lower Coal Seam, is contained within the Mosomane Formation. It has an average thickness of 2,83 metres and varies in depth below surface from 30 metres in the area of sub-outcrop to 60 metres in the west. The seam consists of mixed bright banded coal with minor bands of shale locally. o The Middle Coal Seam is separated from the Lower coal by 17 to 18 metres of feldspathic, gritty sandstone and thin mudstones: this coal lies at the base of the Mmamabula Formation and appears to correlate with the Morupule Main Seam in the Morupule area. It extends over an area of 32 km 2 and has an average thickness of 5,39 metres. The Middle Seam is inferior in quality to the Lower Seam, largely due to the presence of many thin bands of carbonaceous shale, some locally reaching 0,5 metres in thickness.
TABLE 3.3. SUMMARY OF IN-SITU COAL RESOURCES MMAMABULA CENTRAL BLOCK
Seam Lower Seam Middle Seam Upper Seam
Average Thickness (m) 2.83 5.39 2.07 Average S.G. 1.50 1.54 1.67 In-situ Tonnage (KILOTONS) 159 251 212 769 70 923
Raw Ash % 19.5 20.8 34.2 Volatiles % 25.1 25.0 24.1 GCV (MJ/kg) 25.10 23.95 18.94 Sulphur % 2.08 1.68 2.19
Washed Yield % 80.0 46.0 30.0 Cum float SG 1.6 1.5 1.5 Ash % 13.3 11.4 10.1 Volatiles % 27.3 27.0 32.8 GCV (MJ/kg) 27.35 27.76 28.24 Sulphur % 0.44 0.41 0.42
14 o The third seam of possible economic potential is the Upper Coal Seam situated approximately 10 metres above the Middle Coal Seam. This seam is restricted in area and extends over only 15 km2 with an average thickness of 2,07 metres. This coal will probably only has economic potential if strip mining is practiced. The Upper Seam has the poorest quality of the three seams and comprises bright coal, particularly at the base, intercalated with carbonaceous shale bands.
3.1.2.3. LETLHAKENG COALFIELD
The Letlhakeng area, approximately 8 000 km 2 in size, was prospected by Shell Coal Botswana (1977, 1979 and 1982) and during its exploration programme from 1974 to 1982, a total of 217 boreholes were drilled at a spacing varying from 1,2 km to about 10 km.
The borehole data, as well as the results of the regional aeromagnetic survey, confirmed the presence of two generations of faulting with similar trends to those at Mmamabula. A series of northwest-south-east-trending faults divides the area into horst and graben features, the strata within each faulted block being undeformed and generally flat lying, and with dips not exceeding 3°. Along the northern boundary of the area the lower Karoo sediments are faulted against the Stormberg Lava Group, which lies north of an east-northeast-trending fault that is probably a westward extension of the Zoetfontein Fault, with a downthrow to the north in the order of 500 metres. This fault is displaced by later northwest-south-east-trending faults.
The main coal development lies in four parts (two in the east and two in the west) separated by a horst-like structure occupying the centre of the Letlhakeng area.
The E2b Seam occurs in the Mosomane Formation interbedded with fluviatile sandstones. It ranges in thickness from 1,45 to 3,16 metres in the eastern region, where it is more persistent and better developed than in the west. The seam contains mostly dull coal with scattered bands of bright coal. The E2b Seam has been traced at depths varying from 60 to 200 metres and it has been estimated to contain more than 1 000 million tons of reserves in the eastern region. The best quality coal in this seam occurs near the sub-outcrop in the southeast of the eastern region, which contains some 326 million tons of in-situ reserves of high-volatile bituminous coal. Charbonnages de France evaluated the economic potential of this coal seam in 1982.
The overlying Boritse Formation in the west, and the Mmamabula Formation in the east, contain many coal seams; the majority are thin and interbedded with thin mudstones to form coal zones up to 20 metres thick. The proportion of coal in such zones is usually less than 50% and
15 individual seams rarely exceed 1,5 metres in thickness. Although these coal seams contain large amounts of coal the quality and thickness of the seams is such that most of the coal is of no economic interest.
In parts of both the eastern and western regions there is a Basal Seam in the Boritse and Mmamabula formations, known as Gi Seam, which has been traced at depths of from 80 to 220 metres. In the western region the seam varies in thickness from 1,3 to 4,7 metres and is estimated to contain 1 250 million tons of in-situ coal. The coal quality is generally inferior to that found in the eastern region. The same seam in the eastern region varies in thickness from about 2,9 to 7,4 metres near the sub-outcrop in the southeast of the eastern region. It is near the sub- outcrop that the best quality coal is developed and some 679 million tons of in-situ coal has been identified here and a further 600 million tons in the remainder of the eastern region.
TABLE 3.4. IN-SITU COAL RESOURCES "SOUTH BLOCK-E", LETLHAKENG AREA
Seam E2b Seam Gi Seam
Average Thickness (m) 1.71 4.51 Average S.G. 1.50 1.55 In-situ Tonnage (Kilotons) 325 800 679 274
Raw Ash % 18.7 23.3 Volatiles % 28.3 25.3 GCV (MJ/kg) 25.04 22.83 Sulphur % 1.86 1.41
Washed Yield % 74.0 52.3 Cum Ash % 9.3 9.5 Float @ Volatiles % 30.9 28.4 1.5 SC GCV (MJ/kg) 28.66 28.25 Sulphur % 0.41 0.36 Quality is reported moisture free
3.1.2.4. DUTLWE COALFIELD
The Dutlwe area of some 5 000 km2 was investigated by BP Botswana Exploration Company in 1976. The coal resources located during the exploration drilling are almost entirely restricted to the Ecca Group, within strata equated with the former Middle and Upper Ecca Stages of South Africa. On the basis of the limited number of boreholes drilled the thin seams within the coal zone of the upper part of the Ecca Group appear to have no commercial potential.
16 Beneath this coal zone six to seven seams have been identified of which two attain mineable dimensions. The two seams thicken toward the eastern part of the area, where 11 of the total number of boreholes were drilled, providing a sufficient drilling density for the stratigraphy to be correlated between boreholes.
Seven boreholes intersected a lower Main Seam, which varied in thickness from 1,5 to 4 metres. Washing tests carried out indicated that at S.G. 1,5 the Main Seam would produce a coal with a calorific value of 26,88 MJ/kg, ash content of 13,4% and sulphur content of 0,6% at a yield of 50% per cent (moisture-free basis). Washing at 1,7 increased the yield to 80%, but the product had a calorific value of 24,89 MJ/kg and an ash content of 19%.
Six boreholes intersected an upper Top Seam varying in thickness from 2,3 to 3,5 metres. The Top Seam similarly treated at S.G. 1,5 would produce a coal with similar calorific value and ash content, but with a sulphur content of 1,6% and a yield of only 44%. At S. G. 1,7 the yield increases to 68%, but the product has an ash content of 22,1% and a calorific value of 24,15 MJ/kg.
In three boreholes a Third Seam below the Main Seam was intersected. The coal in this seam appeared to be of a better quality and when washed at S.G. 1,5 produced a coal with 13,0% ash content, calorific value of 26,64 MJ/kg, sulphur content of 0,3% and a yield of 71%. At a S.G. of 1,7 the yield increased to more than 95 per cent with a coal containing 16% ash and a calorific value of 25,74 MJ/kg. Insufficient data was collected to assess fully the potential of the third seam.
On the basis of the borehole data it was estimated that approximately 2 000 million tons of in-situ mineable coal is present within an area of approximately 350 km 2, the cut-off parameters used by the company being a minimum seam thickness of 1,25 metres and depth limit of 300 metres.
3.1.2.5. SERULE COALFIELD
Total Coal Botswana also prospected an area between Serule and Morupule around 1982.
In the Serule area coal occurs within the rocks of the upper part of the Ecca Group, and the coal- bearing sequence shows some similarities to the succession at Morupule, consisting of a thick Basal Seam, marking the lower limit of the Tlapana Formation, overlain by some 100 metres of mudstones containing numerous thin coal bands, which locally form seams of mineable thickness.
17 The Basal Seam is a dull coal that varies in thickness from 2,7 to 10,6 metres. Within the boreholes drilled the Basal Seam was intersected at depths that varied from 88 to 175 metres. The ash content of the raw coal is usually high (30-50 %) and the calorific value is low, of the order of 17 to 19 MJ/kg. In all boreholes the grade of this Basal Seam is inferior to that found at Morupule. Washing tests carried out on the Basal Seam indicated that at a S.G. of 1,6 a product with a 21% ash content and a calorific value of 24,67MJ/kg could be obtained, but with a yield of only 51%.
Higher in the Tlapana Formation seams of bright coal were intersected, some attaining thickness in excess of 1,5 metres. The Upper Seam at the same specific gravity would produce a coal with a 13,8% ash content, a calorific value of 27,33 MJ/kg and a yield of 64,7%.
Anglo Botswana Coal (1975) carried out reconnaissance exploration over the Serule area for possible deposits of coking coal. During their investigations ten boreholes were drilled at seven sites within the 2 500 km2 block and at all locations coal seams were intersected. This exploration programme located seams of low quality bituminous coal extending over a wide area, but the amount of drilling carried out was insufficient to assess fully the coal potential of the area. The exploration work did not, however, locate seams comparable in quality to those of the Morupule area.
TABLE 3.5. RAW ANALYSES OF COALS IN THE SERULE AREA
Depth Thickness Ash % Volatiles % GCV(MJ/kg) ( m ) (m)
Upper Seam 49.00 1.72 9.2 30.4 21.69 Basal Seam 92.00 2.70 34.2 20.2 20.39 Quality is reported moisture free.
3.1.2.6. FOLEY COALFIELD
The Foley area, totaling some 2 560 km 2, was investigated by Shell Coal Botswana (1977) and 20 boreholes were drilled during its prospecting activities. Coal-bearing formations were found over large parts of the area, but the coal is of too poor a quality and too irregular in development to be of economic interest at the present time.
18 The coal towards the base of the Tlapana Formation is massive in appearance and of dull and heavy type. The coal seams are irregularly developed and stratigraphic correlation between boreholes was found to be difficult. No estimates of reserves were made and the best analysis of raw coal (moisture free) was as follows:
Sample depth 186,7-188,7 metres.
Thickness 2 metres.
Volatiles 25%, fixed carbon 57,3%, ash 17,7%, calorific value 24,17 MJ/kg, sulphur 0,70%. Washing of the above sample to a 16% ash product resulted in a low yield of a coal with calorific values of not more than 24,70 MJ/kg.
In the upper part of the Tlapana Formation thin seams of bright and mixed coals occur, but most of the seams are less than 1,5 metres thick. The best raw coal analysis (moisture free) showed an ash content of 19,3%, a sulphur content of 1,8% and a calorific value of 24,18 MJ/kg. Washing to a 16% ash product produced a coal with a calorific value of 25,37 MJ/kg.
With further exploration in the Foley area it might be possible to prove some coal deposits at shallow depth which would produce low-grade coal possibly for local power generation.
3.1.2.7. DUKWE COALFIELD
The Botswana Geological Survey carried out a reconnaissance coal exploration programme in the Dukwe area from 1961 to 1963, when nine boreholes were drilled near the village of Dukwe.
Anglo Botswana Coal (1975) did further investigations in the area for possible deposits of coking coal and 12 boreholes were drilled during their investigations.
BP Coal Botswana also prospected part of the area.
The area covers some 9 000 km 2, but in the west the Karoo rocks are covered by recent sediments of the Makgadikgadi Depression and the coal potential of that part of the area had not been investigated until BP Coal Botswana began exploration during 1984. Difficult drilling conditions in the extreme east of the area, near the Zimbabwe border, prevented a full evaluation of the coal potential being made by Anglo Botswana Coal and the three boreholes drilled did not
19 intersect coal-bearing strata. Most of the drilling has been carried out along the sub-outcrop zone of the Karoo rocks east of the Makgadikgadi Depression and adjacent to Dukwe village.
The main coal-bearing zone occurs 'within carbonaccous mudstones of the Tlapana Formation. The zone has a total thickness of approximately 70 metres and includes numerous thin coal bands, which locally form seams of mineable thickness. The coal has a high-ash, medium-volatile content and has no coking properties. An analysis (moisture free) of the best coal intersected is as follows:
Depth 119,1 - 121,2 metres Thickness 2,1 metres Ash 22,1% Volatiles 25,4 % Calorific value 24,91 MJ/kg
One of the boreholes drilled by the Geological Survey intersected a seam approximately 8,7 metres thick at a depth of 139 metres, immediately south of Dukwe. The seam contains coal of marginal grade (22,1 % ash, calorific value 23,6 MJ/kg) and is overlain by two further seams 1,5 and 1,9 metres in thickness, but details of their quality are not available.
The exploratory drilling carried out has indicated the presence of high-ash, low-grade, bituminous coal, but the numerous dyke intrusions and faulting complicates the coal geology of the area.
3.1.2.8. PANDARRATENGA COALFIELD
Shell Coal Botswana (1978) drilled ten exploratory boreholes in the Pandamatenga area. The reconnaissance drilling was carried out to investigate the possible south-westward extension of the Wankie Coalfield of Zimbabwe, into Botswana.
All but two of the boreholes reached depths greater than 400 metres. The boreholes intersected very thick sequences of Kalahari Beds and Stormberg Lava Group, each reaching a thickness of 200 to 300 metres and only the upper units of the Lebung Group were reached. The results of the drilling programme, as well as geophysical evidence, suggest that the possible coal-bearing formations occur at depths of 500 to 700 metres below surface, which are presently too deep to be of economic interest.
20 3.1.2.9. NCOJANE COALFIELD
Shell Coal Botswana (1979) carried out a reconnaissance drilling programme in the Ncojane area. The purpose of the drilling was to investigate possible coal development in this virtually unknown part of the Karoo Sequence in southwest Botswana. Some 1 500 metres of drilling was carried out and all boreholes penetrated Karoo strata beneath a relatively thin cover of Kalahari Beds. No borehole reached the pre-Karoo basement, which is probably at a depth of about 600 metres. The drilling proved a minimum thickness of 450 metres of sub-horizontal Karoo strata, including parts of the Dwyka and Ecca groups locally overlain by the Kule Formation and the Lebung Group.
A limited amount of coal was encountered at two horizons thought to have been developed on the tops of two deltaic progrades comprising the Otshe Formation. The upper coal horizon was weathered and locally eroded, probably due to tectonic activity resulting in uplift. Seam thickness is all below 1,6 metres and the quality of the unweathered coal is poor, with a high ash and moisture content resulting in a very low calorific value. The quality of coal found was such that no further exploratory work is proposed.
3.1.2.10. BOBONONG COALFIELD
The Bobonong area was briefly examined by Anglo Botswana Prospecting (1975) for the possible occurrences of coal with coking properties. Only two boreholes were drilled in the 1 000 km 2 area. The borehole results indicated that rocks, which could be assigned to the Ecca Group (Seswe Formation), were very poorly developed and were overlain by a thin succession of non- carbonaceous mudstones possibly equivalent to the Tlhabala Formation.
Thin coal seams were encountered in one borehole, at depths of 106 to 108 metres. The thickest seam intersected was 1,2 metres with raw coal values of 37,8% ash content and calorific value of 18,9 MJ/kg. The poor development of coal intersected in the boreholes did not warrant further prospecting and exploration of this area is unlikely to be resumed. (Clark, et al. 1986: 2075-2085)
21 3.1.3. TOTAL RESERVES
Exploration work carried out has confirmed the presence of very large resources of high-ash, medium calorific value bituminous coals. The present annual domestic consumption is low at 700 000 tpa and is unlikely to increase significantly in the near future.
TABLE 3.6. SUMMARY OF IN—SITU COAL RESOURCES IN BOTSWANA
Area Total in situ km 2 Resources Mt
Morupule 610 7 910 S. W. Moijabana 250 1 295 Mmamabula 800 5 175 Letlhakeng 670 3 530 Dutlwe 350 2 000
Grand Total 2 680 19 915
(Clark, et al. 1986: 2084)
3.1.4. PRODUCTION TRENDS AND PROSPECTS
Botswana's coal production started in 1973 with the opening of the Morupule Colliery. The mine is currently an underground operation, but has the potential to be converted into an opencast mine should growth in demand require it. The colliery is fully mechanised, with an output of 900 000 tons/year.
According to some reports, there is little possibility that Botswana's annual coal production will increase from its present level of 900 000 tons per annum, however, some quarters are saying that a new mine to supply Eskom and Iscor of South Africa, may be developed.
Attempts to promote domestic consumption of coal have failed. Moves to increase generation at the country's only power station have been shelved, as have plans to build a second power station now that Botswana has joined the Southern African Power Pool.
22 3.1.4.1. COAL CONSUMPTION
The tonnage produced is presently consumed by:
The power station is the mine's principal customer and takes an average of 450 000 tons per annum. In 1987 three sets each of 33 MW were commissioned at Morupule, with a further 33 MW set being commissioned in 1990.
BCL Limited and Potash, a soda ash producer, take 150 000 tons a year each. The US$400 million soda ash export project at Sua Pan came on stream in 1991.
The balance of 150 000 tons goes to smaller industrial operators.
3.1.4.2. POSSIBLE NEW MINE DEVELOPMENT
Makgadikgadi Investments has applied for a mining lease to establish a new open pit colliery in the Mmamabula Coalfield some 140 km north of Gaborone. The deposit in this region has 450 million tons of proven reserves and a further 20 000 million tons are indicated. It is believed that once the mine starts producing it would be feasible to set up an adjacent power station within five years. Eskom of South Africa would probably be invited to run the power station. Another potential customer is Iscor, which carried out tests relating to the possibility of utilising some of the coal from the new mine at its plant at Saldanha Bay. Other potential users are cement plants in the Western Cape and Northern Province of South Africa.
Jock Burden, Managing director of Makgadikgadi, said recently the company had applied for a mining lease to establish the colliery at the town of Mmamabula, 140 km north of the Botswana capital, Gaborone. It is planned to produce 1,0 million tons of high quality steam coal and some metallurgical coal will be produced in the first year, rising to several million tons per year within 5 years. Burden said Iscor Mining, the South African mining company and subsidiary of steel giant Iscor, which operates in the adjacent Waterberg Coalfield in South Africa, had been invited to participate in the venture. (Baxter, 1997)
Coal would hopefully be sent 1 500 km to South Africa's iron ore plant at Saldanha Bay. However, there is as yet neither direct, nor heavy traffic rail link between Botswana and Saldanha Bay.
23 The South African power utility Eskom's Matimba power station could source 2,5 million tons of coal a year from the colliery, which is 90 km from Matimba, but as yet, the power station is not directly linked to Botswana by rail.
As Botswana, who are now members of the Southern Africa power pool, start to use more power and South Africa runs out, they could connect another station to the regional grid. Eskom indicated they would be interested in running the power station.
The viability of a colliery over the Mmamabula Coalfield is being questioned by sources in the region's coal and energy industries:
The Botswana Mining Commissioner has confirmed a mining application, but that it concerns only a preliminary licence. According to the Mining Commission, mining plans, no environmental nor water studies have been carried out.
Iscor Mining general manager Jannie Grimes expressed reservations. "We looked at it, but were not interested, mainly because of the logistics. The field is too far from the markets. It would not be viable," he said. "If a power station is built on the field, that might change the picture as regards the steam coal, but for the metallurgical product it is too far away to interest us." (Baxter, 1997)
Eskom has 3 500 megawatt capacity in mothballs and is running on a low load factor and therefore has extensive surplus capacity. There would be no need for more power sources for 15 to 20 years. Even then, a station in Mmamabula would be one of many alternatives including the Rio Tinto field and extensions to Wankie Colliery in Zimbabwe, both of which are served by existing infrastructure. A Mmamabula Colliery power station would have to beat the already marginal cost of power in the system.
3.1.5. COAL EXPORTS
Exports have been considered at various times by the Government and mining companies. Botswana's export prospects were analysed in detail in an early 1980s study by Shell Coal Botswana, which considered an export mine complex at Kgaswe in the Morupule Coalfield:
Four underground mines, each with a capacity of 2,5 million tons were envisaged as the best way to exploit the area's substantial reserves.
24 Capital and operating costs were found to be similar to a greenfield site in South Africa, with mine start-up capital cost at around US$500 (in 1982 prices).
The additional infrastructural costs associated with the project were substantial. Two export routes were considered in the study, one through South Africa and the other through Namibia:
The South African route would have required US$120 million (in 1982 prices) of investment on railway construction to join up with the existing line to Richards Bay Coal Terminal.
The Namibian option required considerably more railway construction and a new coal terminal at Walvis Bay; this option was costed at between US$760 and US$1000 million (1982 terms).
The transport costs made both projects uneconomic and especially the Walvis Bay alternative. It was estimated that, even given higher international coal prices, such a scheme could only be economic if 13 mtpa were to be exported along the line. The project was consequently dropped, and has not been subsequently revived.
Exports via Saldanha Bay were considered more recently, which would involve the constructing of a new line to Sishen in the RSA from the Botswana Coalfields. With international coal prices unlikely to rise sufficiently to justify the cost of this project, it is likely to remain dormant until export coal prices increase sufficiently to justify the project.
In all of the above cases coal exports from Botswana seem highly unlikely due to the long distances from the coast, high infrastructure costs and low coal prices in the industry. (IEA Coal Research, 1991: 46)
3.1.6. CONTRIBUTION OF COAL TO THE ECONOMIC AND REGIONAL DEVELOMPENT
3.1.6.1. ECONOMIC GROWTH
As a result of the discovery of diamonds after independence, the country enjoyed uninterrupted economic growth and a soaring per capita income since diamond mining began in 1971. The diamond industry transformed Botswana from an agriculture-based economy to one in which diamonds account for 80% of exports and 50% of government revenue. (South African Development Community, 1997: 2.4)
25 With the expected growth in the mining industry in the future, it may be necessary to develop a second mine-mouth power station to supply the increase in electricity demand, which would double coal production capacity over the long term.
3.1.6.2. MINING'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY
Minerals provide a base for the economy and the country is now the third largest African mining producer after South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire). Diamonds, copper - nickel, soda ash and coal are mined, as well as small amounts of gold. (South African Development Community, 1997: 2.10)
The Morupule Colliery (the only colliery in Botswana) employs 335 people (out of a population of 1,325 million).
Most domestic electricity production is coal-fired from the Morupule power station. In the country districts, some power is generated using diesel generators. Some power is imported from South Africa and Zambia.
The mining industry is the largest consumer of electricity (over half of the total), although domestic and commercial consumption has risen fast in recent years. Growth in demand is to be met through imports rather than by expansion of capacity at Morupule.
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