Francistown — Worldwide demand for energy, especially coal, is growing at a huge rate, the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, said at the official opening of a washing plant at Morupule Colliery.

"One is convinced that the operation falls under the right ministry and is driven by the right team," Kedikilwe said, "a team that is dedicated to coal and its beneficiation.

"This washing plant here before me stands as a monumental testimony to efforts towards the achievement of such a goal."

Construction of this plant has contributed to increased job opportunities and new skills in Botswana.

Kedikilwe said he was proud of the team of dedicated people because the coal washing plant is going to improve the value of coal by reducing the ash and sulphur content and in order to increase its caloric value.

Addressing CFO concerns, the minister noted that many countries have strict regulations regarding emissions of offensive gases into the atmosphere.

This plant should therefore be seen as Botswana's response to the challenges of ensuring that people have clean air and environmental protection.

The use of run-of-mine coal requires expensive processes aimed at cleaning off-gases resulting from burning such coal before the gases can be released into the atmosphere.

The plant has been engineered to recycle the water used in the cleaning of the coal, thereby helping to conserve precious water resources.

"The wash plant also represents a step in a direction that our country is determined to follow," Kedikilwe said.

"That direction being the beneficiation of our resources locally so as to add further value to them and to earn more revenue from them before they are exported to add value to other economies.

"In its own way this plant takes us further along the road plotted for our country by Vision 2016 and must stand alongside other projects such as the sorting and polishing of diamonds within Botswana."

At the same ceremony, Acting Mine Manager Frank said the wash plant is their next step in the growth of sales by the mine. Wookey said the wash plant joins a list of recent innovations brought to the mine.

"Although it may not be the best in the country, we are glad that we are able to contribute to the best of our ability towards the improvement in the living conditions of the less privileged members of our community.

We have assisted many organisations, including schools, charitable organisations and private individuals," Wookey said.