(Gaborone, Botswana) – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a grant to Kalahari Energy Botswana in support of the development of a power plant in Botswana that will generate electricity using indigenous coalbed methane.

The project includes a CBM-fired power plant with a nameplate capacity of 110 MW powered by gas engines, a supporting gas-field extraction and processing facility to supply gas to the power plant and a 220 kV transmission line to evacuate the power to the Serule substation. The project is located in the Central Kalahari Karoo Basin.

The project will bring critically important additional power to Botswana’s electrical grid and will have a significant impact on the economy of Botswana as it will provide a springboard from which to commercialise the significant CBM resources in Botswana whilst reducing the country’s carbon footprint. The project will create employment opportunities for between 1,200 and 1,500 workers during the construction phase.

Kalahari Energy Botswana, the project owner, appointed Prana Energy (www.pranaenergy.co.za) as Project Developer to develop the project from the inception stage through to financial close.  Prana Energy leads an experienced international project development team with a proven track record of delivering successful natural gas and CBM projects, comprising (amongst others):

  • Owners Team Consultation (ownerteamconsult.com) – conceptual engineering design and project management; and
  • Advanced Resources International Inc (adv-res.com) – reservoir modelling and well-field design;

“USTDA is helping enhance Botswana’s energy security and economic growth” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA’s Acting Director. “This project will build upon USTDA’s commitment to working with our partners in Botswana to develop and expand the country’s natural gas options.”

“The United States is proud to support this project, which could be the first step toward energy independence for Botswana” said Craig Cloud, U.S. Ambassador to Botswana.

“Kalahari Energy Botswana and Prana Energy is delighted to have the support of USTDA, especially in light of the significant positive impact the project will have on the economy of Botswana.” said Chris Scales, CEO of Kalahari Energy Botswana.

For more information, visit www.keb.co.bw, contact Chris Scales (CEO of Kalahari Energy Botswana)  at +26 72871673 or Johan Posthumus (CEO of Prana Energy) at +27 82 466 2452.