JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – AltX- and Aim-listed Kibo Mining has been granted an environmental- and social-impact assessment (Esia) certificate for its Mbeya coal and power generation project, in Tanzania.
The Esia is the latest critical milestone for the company’s Mbeya coal-to-power project (MCPP), taking the project a step closer to construction.
“The endorsement of the MCPP as a consequence of the Esia certification cannot be underestimated – this is probably the most important enabler for the successful and expeditious completion of the remaining development work on the MCPP,” said Kibo CEO Louis Coetzee.
Kibo had submitted the 1 000 page application to the Tanzanian government in February, outlining the technical, environmental and social assessment of the two components of the MCPP – a coal mine developed in tandem with a 300 MW mine mouth power station.
The project, being developed in partnership with Chinese construction and engineering company Sepco III, had already successfully completed a power prefeasibility study (PFS), a mining PFS, a definitive PFS, a definitive mining feasibility study, an independent integrated financial model and an integrated bankable feasibility study.
Coetzee further commented that Kibo has had successful engagements with the newly established Ministry of Energy over the past two two weeks.
“[The productive meetings] confirmed our view that the memorandum of understanding on the power purchase agreement (PPA) is progressing well and that it will be finalised shortly,” he said.
Following the signing of the final PPA, Kibo expects MCPP to enter production within 36 months.