Gas play could power Botswana’s future
staff writer | Monday June 29, 2026 06:00
Botala Energy has reached a key milestone at its Serowe coal seam gas project in central Botswana, preparing a crucial production well for testing that will determine whether the project can move into commercial production.
The company has completed critical work on its 3.5B well, which is now ready for “stimulation” – a process designed to unlock gas from underground coal seams and allow it to flow to the surface.
In simple terms, the project is shifting from drilling into the more decisive phase of proving whether it can reliably produce gas at commercial scale.
Botala CEO Kris Martinick said the work completed so far marked a significant step forward, with the well passing technical checks to ensure it is safe and ready for testing.
Importantly, early signs from the broader pilot area have been encouraging. Nearby support wells have already shown traces of gas as water is pumped from the coal seams — an early signal the underground reservoir is behaving as expected
The next step will be a multi-stage stimulation program followed by a 90-day flow test, which will measure how much gas can be produced and whether the project stacks up economically.
All environmental approvals are in place across the Serowe gasfield, LNG production facilities, energy hubs, and pipeline corridor
Potential economic boost
If successful, the implications for Botswana could be significant. Australia's Coal Bed Methane (CBM) sector has shown the potential for the resource to be a multi-billion dollar pillar of a national economy.
Primarily located in Queensland's Bowen and Surat Basins, the CBM industry supplies critical feedstock to three massive LNG export facilities in the industrial city of Gladstone, driving an annual export revenue of roughly driving an annual export revenue of roughly A$19 billion to $20 billion.
The Serowe project is aimed at developing a new domestic energy source in a region that has historically relied heavily on imported power and fuels.
A reliable local gas supply could help underpin electricity generation, reduce energy costs and support industrial growth, while also improving energy security.
Botala has also flagged the potential for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, opening the door to new revenue streams and foreign investment for Botswana. In the longer term, the pilot project could expand into a much larger development involving more than 100 wells, creating jobs, infrastructure and ongoing economic activity in the region.
Such a development would position Botswana as an emerging gas producer in southern Africa, with the potential to supply both domestic and regional markets.
A project at a turning point
For now, the focus is firmly on proving the concept.
The extended flow test planned for the coming months will be critical in determining whether the gas flows at rates high enough to justify full-scale development.
Success would not only mark a breakthrough for Botala, but could also help reshape Botswana’s energy landscape — shifting it toward greater self-sufficiency and laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth.
Located near the town of Serowe, one of Botswana’s largest population centres, the project is strategically positioned to contribute to local power generation and reduce reliance on imported electricity.
The project centres on the extraction of methane gas from coal seams, a resource that can be used as a relatively lower-emissions fuel compared with traditional coal-fired power.
Energy security for Botswana
By developing domestic gas supply through the Serowe project, Botala Energy is aiming to play a role in strengthening Botswana’s energy security while supporting a gradual shift toward cleaner-burning fuels within the region’s energy mix.
Situated in an area with established coal resources, the Serowe CBM Project is being advanced as part of broader efforts to commercialise unconventional gas in southern Africa. The development has the potential to underpin future power generation projects and industrial energy supply, particularly as demand for reliable and affordable electricity continues to grow across Botswana and neighbouring markets.
In positioning the Serowe project, Botala Energy highlights its relevance to both domestic energy independence and regional energy stability, with coal bed methane seen as a transitional fuel that can bridge the gap between higher-emissions energy sources and longer-term renewable solutions.