[2007-06-07]  CIC Energy dumps Letlhakeng calcrete
The developers of the multibillion Pula Mmamabula coal-fired power station, CIC Energy, have decided against mining calcrete (kalaka) at Letlhakeng Calcrete Mine as had earlier been proposed, insisting that the product is of lower quality.This comes in the backdrop of exploration work that has been taking place in the concession area from July 2006 in which CIC Energy, through its local subsidiary Meepong Resources, had sought to mine the calcium carbonate rich rock, to be used as a sorbent in the chimney desulphurisation process at the Mmamabula mine. Speaking to BG Business on Tuesday, CIC Energy’s representative in the country, David Mompati said that the results of the 2006 exploration showed that the calcrete was not of desired quality because it did not satisfy the 85 to 90 percent content of CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) required. “Only a small portion of the calcrete deposit contained the required CaCO3, which left the explorers with no choice but to look elsewhere, mainly in South Africa,” said Mompati. According to Mompati, a meeting was scheduled to be held at Letlhakeng cattle post on Tuesday, where the findings of the exploration and the reasons for the discontinuation would be presented.
Source: Botswana Guardian