Sese Integrated Power Project
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Sese Integrated Power Project is a proposed 450-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in Botswana.
Contents
Location
The map below shows the approximate location where the plant would be built, about 50 km south of Francistown.
Background
According to project developer African Energy (February 2014), the Sese Integrated Power Project has been designed around an initial 300 MW power station (2 x 150MW coal-fired boilers) with a captive 1.5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) coal mine providing the fuel. The lifetime is projected to be 30 years.[1]
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was described as "well underway" in a 2013 company presentation, with a projected start date for the power station by 2019.[2]
The EIA for the power station and coal mine was approved in September 2014. The 300 MW power station was described as the first of multiple coal plants planned at the location.[3]
In June 2015 sponsor African Energy said it planned to double the capacity of the plant to 600MW, and double the capacity of the associated mine to 2.5 million tonnes per annum. African Energy said Canada's First Quantum Minerals (FQM) will fully fund the project, at an estimated cost of US$1.5 billion. FQM will take about half of the power to its Zambia copper mine operations, with the rest supplied to other markets.[4]
In April 2017, in a move intended to encourage private sector investment, the government of Botswana announced that it had granted First Quantum Minerals and African Energy Resources a tax holiday to build the project. The report described the project as 450 MW in size. According to press reports, the project would receive a five-year tax break beginning with its first year of commercial operation and a preferential 15 percent company tax rate thereafter, compared to the normal corporate tax break of 22 percent. The tax break will still require the approval of Parliament.[5] Plans for a phase II appear shelved.
In February 2018, African Energy Resources said the approved 300MW Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Sese Integrated Power Project has been updated for a larger project to include up to 500MW of power generation and an increase in coal mining and airborne emissions. The updated Environmental Impact Assessment will be submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs in the next quarter. The company said it planned to begin relocating residents in the project area.[6]
In August 2018, African Energy Resources reported its EIA for a 500 MW coal plant had been approved, and the company planned to built 2 x 225 MW units.[7] The company plans to export 100 MW (net) of the power from unit 1 to First Quantum Minerals in Zambia, leaving 88 MW net for sale to Botswana or export. The company is seeking financing from China for the project and "Initial engagements with Chinese SOEs have been positive".[8]
As of 2019 resettlement for the project is ongoing, and the PPAs are being negotiated. In addition to securing the PPAs, the main remaining commercial documents required for the project include Grid Connection, Transmission, and Use of System agreements with the power utilities in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.[9][10][11]
Financing
In April 2014 it was reported that Saudi Arabia-based ACWA Power would be the lead developer and financier for the project.[12]
However, African Energy's 2017 Annual Report states that Canada's First Quantum Minerals (FQM) will fund the plant. FQM became a majority equity partner at the Sese Joint Venture in 2014 and have since directly invested AUD$13m for a 61% project interest and committed to invest a further AUD $5m to increase its stake to 75%. Once this 75% interest has been earned, FQM is responsible for arranging the funds required to build the Sese integrated power project, and will loan carry African Energy’s residual 25% interest through to commercial production. Power from Sese could be delivered to the Zambian Copperbelt where FQML operates a large copper mining and smelting business.[13][14]
In 2018, African Energy Resources said the company is seeking financing from China for the project and "Initial engagements with Chinese SOEs have been positive".[15]
Project Details
- Sponsor: African Energy Resources
- Parent company: First Quantum Minerals (FQM)
- Location: Francistown, Botswana
- Coordinates: -21.3787975, 27.4405217 (approximate)
- Status: Permitted
- Capacity: 450 MW (Units 1&2: 225 MW)
- Type:
- Projected in service:
- Coal Type:
- Coal Source: Domestic
- Source of financing:
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ "Sese Integrated Power Project," African Energy Resources, accessed Feb 2014.
- ↑ "Coal Export & Power Development Opportunities in Botswana," African Energy, September 2013.
- ↑ "EIA approved for Sese," African Energy Resources, Sep 4, 2014
- ↑ "Sese power plant to cost P15bn," Mmegi, June 12, 2015
- ↑ "Botswana govt grants tax holiday for 450 Megawatt coal power project," Economic Times Energyworld, April 27, 2017
- ↑ "Development of AFR power station underway," Global Post, Feb 19, 2018
- ↑ "Sese EIA Approval Increased to 500MW," African Energy Resources, Aug 16, 2018
- ↑ "Power Generation and Coal Export Project Developments," AGM Presentation, 16 November 2018
- ↑ "Quarterly Activities and Cashflow Report," African Energy Resources, January 31, 2019
- ↑ 2019 Annual Report, African Energy Resources, 14 Oct 2019
- ↑ "Sese Joint Venture Project," African Energy Resources, accessed Feb 2014.
- ↑ "Regional update - Botswana: power plants and railways," World Coal, Apr 18, 2014
- ↑ Annual Report, African Energy Resources, 2017
- ↑ "Developing Power Projects in Southern Africa," African Energy, London 121 Presentation, April 2016
- ↑ "Power Generation and Coal Export Project Developments," AGM Presentation, 16 November 2018
