Tanzania revises up coal reserves

Tanzania’s Energy and Minerals minister, Sospeter Muhongo, has announced the country has three times the previously estimated coal reserves. Tanzania now has coal reserves of up to 5 billion t, revised up from the previous figure of 1.5 billion t.

“Tanzania’s total coal reserves were previously estimated at 1.5 billion t and are now expected to have reached up to 5 billion t,” Muhongo told a conference in Dar es Salaam.

Tanzania currently produces coal from two mines. This coal is primarily used for domestic use and power generation. With the revised coal reserves, the country plans to increase its coal-fired power generation capacity and could increase current levels of exports.

In 2011, Chinese company, Sichuan Hongda Co. Ltd. signed a US$ 3 billion deal with Tanzania to mine coal and iron ore and build a 600 MW coal0fired power plant.

Tancoal Energy runs Tanzania’s Ngaka coal project, while Tanzania’s mine at Kiwira is run by the state.

The government said plans were underway for Kiwira and Tancoal to each have power plants with 400 MW capacities.

Edited from various sources by Samuel Dodson.

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