via Lupane gas project breakthrough – Southern Eye 7 April 2015
BULAWAYO – Government has discovered gas reserves in the Lupane-Lubimbi basin estimated at over 23 billion cubic feet and would start exploitation this year, Mines and Mining Development minister, Walter Chidhakwa has said.
In an interview with The Source at the weekend, Chidhakwa said the exploration process has been completed and exploitation would start at some point this year.
“Yes, we have discovered gas in the Lupane-Lubimbi basin and we gave Discovery Investments a special grant to start exploiting the gas,” said Chidhakwa but declined to give details.
Calls to the local Discovery Investments office went unanswered.
Exploration started in 2014 after government ordered Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), which has two coal-bed methane concessions in Lupane-Lubimbi area, to start exploring.
The government granted the exploration of gas a National Project Status in 2007, but did not take action until last year.
In April last year, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) managing director Mike Ndudzo told The Source that the government must put its house in order to attract investors for the project, with three ministries — mining, energy and industry are in disagreement over who should take charge of the project.
The coal gas is a form of natural gas extracted from coal beds. In recent decades it has become an important source of energy being predominantly utilised in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries.
Methane gas is mostly used in power generation and fertiliser production.
According to media reports, the country’s sole Ammonium Nitrate (AN) fertiliser manufacturer, Sable Chemicals, has embarked on a feasibility study to exploit Coal Bed Methane (CBM) reserves in Lupane as it seeks to migrate from electrolysis to new technology. – The Source
COMMENTS
The only “Gas” reserves in Zim are all the hot air coming from the mouths of half wit politicians!!!!!!
The Lupane coal-bed methane was discovered (not by Government) in 1989, and subsequent work was done to prove its viability by Shangani Energy Exploration. It is now 25 years later.
The question to ask is: Who are Discovery Investments Directors and Shareholders? Is this a joint venture between senior political and military figures and some shady foreign partner? Will the nation benefit at all? Who is getting the 51% indigenisation bonanza?
Coalbed methane was discovered by a French company 25 years ago which was then thrown out of the country when the government put an army run outfit. They have not done anything since. The French company spent $5million dollars making test drills. A Chinese company mader some drills but locals in Lupane protested when gas started mixing with water and the locals were supposed to be shareholders but did not have a say. Actually gas has been known well before independence in Lupane which runs to Botswana. In the 80s there was an estimate that $25 million was required to be invested. Now we probably need $200 million to drill and built a power station.
Even if that gas is done the money will disappear like the Chiadzwa mine.
Its all hot air trying to instil hope on hopeless economic situation
It is not hot air Botswana and Mazambique are busy extracting the gas on the borders while Zimbabwe is fluffing about.
http://www.naturalgasasia.com/tlou-energy-flows-395000-cubic-feet-of-gas-per-day-from-botswana-cbm-well-14417
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/mozambique-unveils-discovery-of-natural-gas-reserve-in-north/
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/business-8111-Coal,+gas+finds+in+Manicaland/business.as
There will not be much progress until the Mines and Minerals Act is amended and made fit for process. You need a secure licence before you can invest large sums of capital to such a project which is capital intensive and the return is over 5 years, while in Zimbabwe the president normally issues a licence of 5 years which can be taken away.
Before you celebrate take this into consideration:
Zimbabwe produces an average 30tonnes of gold per year, thus 30,000kg or 30million grams. Divide that by 31 = about 1million ounces. Multiply that by USD1900/ounce = 1,900,000,000 per year during the time when the price was USD1,900 per ton.
Now the price is around USD1,200per ton, that gives USD1,200,000,000. now add platinum which has higher prices. Also add nickel, manganese,chrome, diamonds, coal. Then add tourism, then add others. That’s when you will understand the lies and plunder taking place. Then you know that the parroted patriotism is only cynical.
Now compare that with white colonialists. They built Salisbury, Bulawayo, Gwelo, Umtali and all the towns and cities in a period of 40years to be realistic. The had to start teaching the locals how to read and write first (1890 – 1940) in order to understand how to build a straight wall.
Then they built all the roads, rails, electricity infrastructure etc. before bowing to the GANDANGA in 1980. When gandanga took over, he built what? He maintained what was there? Andrew Fleming became Pari. Jameson became Samora. Manyika became Robert and Robert is everywhere naming a road he did not build…now potholed from end to end. But yes, its now a one way.
Heard about this many years ago