Botswana draws more coal suitors

Akolang Tombale, Botswana's permanent secretary in the Ministry of  Minerals, Energy and Water Resources said last week during a presentation at the Africa Downunder conference that despite the country's huge coal resources, the total output was only 1 million tons a year.

Coal was first found in Botswana in 1897. The majority of exploration in the country for coal was completed over the 20 years to 1989. "There is a high level of interest in coal to meet energy demand," said Tombale. "Botswana is looking to grow coal mining."
The government had granted 30 coal concessions to those exploring for coal over Botswana's 12 coal fields.