The newly launched Motheo Project is expected to contribute to the economy of the country which has since been knocked down by Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Speaking earlier today while officially launching the project by Morupule Coal Mine, His Excellency the President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi said;
“Dumelang Batswana betsho. We are in Palapye for the ground breaking ceremony of Motheo Project. The project is an expansion of l the Morupule Coal Mine operations from underground to open cast.
Morupule Mine is 100% owned by the Government of Botswana and its current coal production capacity is 2.8 million tons per annum. The open cast project will raise the production capacity to 4.2 million tons per annum.
We have made a commitment to carry out infrastructural developments that will help us diversify our economy from diamond dependency. This diversification will also be export led. I am happy to note that this project will create 900 jobs during construction phase and about 350 more jobs on the operational side.”
Motheo is an expansion project established by Morupule Coal Mine to develop an open cast mine, a coal washing plant and associated infrastructure. The ultimate aim of the project is to facilitate MCMβs contribution to Botswanaβs economic growth and transformation of coal into unlimited sources of energy. The project is envisaged to increase coal production capacity from the current two point eight (2.8) million tons to Four point two (4.2) million tons per annum.
The Morupule Coal Mine is owned by Debswana Diamond Company, a joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Botswana and De Beers. Morupule’s principal customer is the state owned utility, Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), which is constructing a new 600-megawatt power station next to the existing Morupule βA’ power station, situated near the town of Palapye.
The Morupule Project involved the upgrade and expansion of the mine’s process facilities and infrastructure in order to supply coal to the new Morupule βB’ power station as well as its existing customers.
