Mbeya Coal to Power Project
| This article is part of the CoalSwarm coverage of Tanzania and coal. | |
| Sub-articles: | |
The Mbeya Coal to Power Project, previously known as the Rukwa Power Project, is a proposed 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in Tanzania.
Contents
Location
The map below shows the location of the Mbeya, Tanzania, but not the exact location of Mbeya power station.
Background
In 2013 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Ireland-based Kibo Mining and Korean government-owned Korea East West Power to participate in co-development of a coal mine: the Rukwa thermal coal deposit is in Mbeya Region. Plans also include a 300 to 350 MW mine-mouth power station, with a planned commissioning by 2018.[1]
Kibo Mining later changed its website to say joint venture negotiations were on-going with major energy companies to participate in co-development of a 250-300 MW mine-mouth power station at Rukwa,[2] suggesting the MOU with Korea East West Power fell through.
In April 2015 Kibo Mining said it had signed a development agreement for its Rukwa coal project with SEPCO of China. The Chinese firm would contribute up to US$3 million toward completing a feasibility study by October 2015, after which Kibo’s holding would be transferred into 85% ownership of a special purpose vehicle to develop the project. Financial closure will be led by South Africa’s Standard Bank.[3] Kibo plans to complete feasibility studies by 2015 and financial close by early 2016, with construction planned for the second half of 2016, and first power by 2019.[4]
In October 2015 Tractebel Engineering, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the French utility Engie, entered into an agreement with Kibo Mining to undertake a feasibility study on the proposed plant, despite Engie recently announcing that it would no longer build coal plants. Standard Bank is acting as financial adviser to the company.[5]
In May 2016 Kibo Mining completed its pre-feasibility study for the Mbeya coal project. Kibo has been in talks with the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) for a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the plant.[6] On 31 May 2016 Kibo met with SEPCO III of China to initiate the EPC bid process for the Mbeya Power Plant.[7]
In November 2016, Kibo Mining announced that it had received an advanced draft of the integrated financial model for the project from its financial advisors ABSA/Barclays. The announcement described the project as 250-350 MW in size.[8] In December 2016, Kibo Mining announced that it had awarded the EPC contract for the construction of the plant to Chinese construction company SEPCOIII.[9]
In October 2017 Kibo Mining reported it had been awarded an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) certificate for its proposed Mbeya mine and a 300 MW mine-mouth plant.[10]
In October 2018, Kibo Mining submitted a formal tender qualification document (TQD) for the Mbeya coal to Power Project (MCPP), in line with the government’s new initiative regarding the development of independent power projects.[11]
In May of 2019, Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) received the green light for the development of the Mbeya coal-to-power project (MCPP).[12]
Project Details
- Sponsor: Kibo Mining
- Parent company:
- Location: Mbeya, Tanzania
- Coordinates: -8.5, 33 (approximate)
- Status: Permitted
- Gross Capacity: 300 MW
- Type: Subcritical
- Start date:
- Coal Type:
- Coal Source: Mbeya coal mine, Rukwa coal deposit
- Source of financing:
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ "Rukwa (Coal)," Kibo Mining, accessed August 2014.
- ↑ "Rukwa (Coal)," Kibo Mining, accessed March 2015
- ↑ Philip Whiterow, "UPDATE - Kibo Mining teams up with Chinese giant on Rukwa coal to power plant," Proactive Investors, April 20 2015
- ↑ "Coal-to-power DFS to be completed by year-end," Mining Weekly, Oct 9, 2015
- ↑ "Kibo appoints Tractebel to conduct Mbeya Coal to Power Project Power Feasibility Study," Kibo Mining, 09 November 2015
- ↑ "Kibo Mining completes review of feasibility study for Mbeya coal project," Kibo Mining, May 11, 2016
- ↑ "Mbeya Coal to Power Project Commences with Formal EPC Bid Process for Mbeya Power Plant and Mbeya Coal Mine," Kibo Mining, 03 June 2016
- ↑ "Kibo Completes Integrated Financial Model for Mbeya Coal to Power Project," Kibo Mining press release, 30 November 2016
- ↑ "Kibo Finalizes and Awards EPC Contract for MCPP Power Plant to SEPCO III," Kibo Mining press release, 19 December 2016
- ↑ "MCPP granted ESIA Certification," Kibo Mining, 27 October 2017
- ↑ "Kibo submits TQD for Mbeya coal to power project in Tanzania," Power Technology, Oct 19, 2018
- ↑ "Tanzania’s Mbeya coal to power project receives greenlight" Construction Review Online, May 7, 2019
