Just a reminder that NMR are one of the lucky ones who are able...

Just a reminder that NMR are one of the lucky ones who are able to start/keep drilling for coal in Botswana. Licenses are held - so the moratorium does not apply.

That would mean we have a very nice head-start on other crews/explorers.

Lot of news to look forward to.

If anyone knows otherwise please comment.


1) Very good article about Botswana wanting to diversify to coal export & build infrastructure to suit, as well as prospecting license moratorium – although the time-frame is not correct, since it wasn’t lifted by end Sep 2011.

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/botswana-to-lift-coal-prospecting-licence-moratorium-by-month-end-2011-09-02

2) Here’s current the time-frame – with end of Jan 2012 noted as the possible lifting of moratorium

"Suspension of coal prospection licences extended

In March 2011 The Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, through the Department of Geological Survey (DGS) announced that it had engaged a consultant to provide technical assistance in formulating a strategy of monetising the vast coal resources of Botswana. The study was planned to take six (6) months, from April 2011 up to September 2011 with a further one month for evaluation and implementation of the recommendations.

To make full use of the study recommendations and chart the way forward, the Ministry suspended the granting of Prospecting Licences for coal and minerals associated with coal. According to a press release from the Ministry, the completion date has now been revised to early November 2011 with possible lifting of the moratorium by the end of January 2012."

http://www.gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11804:briefs&catid=13:business&Itemid=2

3) "Of late, a number of international companies such as Exxarro and Hodges Resources have shown interest in exploring for coal in Botswana including CBM.
However, the country has since put in a moratorium on coal exploring licences, pending the outcome of a detailed study on how Botswana can best benefit from its more than 200 billion tonnes of coal deposits."

http://www.botswanaguardian.co.bw/newsdetails.php?nid=2922&cat=BG%20Business