AMN - TANZANIA: ESIA Certification for Mbeya

Kibo Mining has received Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Certification from the Tanzanian Government for the Mbeya Coal Project and Mbeya Power Generation Project. The ESIAs are an integral element of the Mbeya Coal to Power Project (MCPP) approval process and a further milestone in the development of this critical energy project.

The ESIA application, submitted to the government in February, is a 1000-page document setting out the developer’s technical, environmental and social assessment of the two components of the MCPP.

The application was subjected to thorough review by all relevant authorities and key stakeholders before granting of approval. The ESIA constitutes a key element of corporate social responsibility and ultimately, of a company’s licence to operate.

Located in southwest Tanzania, the MCPP is developing a coal mine in tandem with a 300MW mine mouth power station, aiming to satisfy the acute need for power in the country.

The project benefits from strong local regional and governmental support, who see it as a national priority playing a key role in the Mtwara development corridor.

MCPP, which partners with SEPCO III, a large Chinese construction and engineering company that designs, builds and operates power plants, was recently awarded General Electric’s Innovative Project of The Year award.

Granting of the ESIA is the latest milestone in the MCPP’s development cycle. The company has already successfully completed a Power Pre-Feasibility Study, a Mining Pre-Feasibility Study, a Definitive Power Feasibility Study, a Definitive Mining Feasibility Study, an Independent Integrated Financial Model and an Integrated Bankable Feasibility Study.

Kibo Mining CEO Louis Coetzee said, “This is terrific news for Kibo and brings us another 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.

“Furthermore, we have had several very productive meetings with the newly established Ministry of Energy over the past two weeks which confirmed our view that the MOU on the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is progressing well and that it will be finalised shortly.

“Once the MOU, and thereafter the final PPA, is signed we envisage being in production in 36 months, bringing light to homes and businesses in Tanzania and making a strategic contribution towards enabling the local economy and delivering cumulative long-term value to our shareholders.”

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