The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has moved in to explore the feasibility and viability of exploiting Lupane coalbed methane gas by inviting bids from companies to carry out a geological survey to establish the extent of the resource.
Mernat Mafirakurewa Acting Business Editor Coalbed methane is seen as an alternative source of clean energy in a country faced with acute power shortages.
The development of the Lupane project has potential to boost the country’s energy generation capacity.
According to the tender document, ZPC said it was pursuing a number of initiatives to diversify the generation mix through the development of gas fired-generation.
“ZPC is requesting quotations from competent engineers and resource geologists to determine the technical feasibility and commercial ability of extracting and using coalbed methane in power generation,” reads part of the tender document.
ZPC said the prospective companies should be able to undertake a reconnaissance and preliminary survey, geo-physical surveys, core hole drilling, core samples analysis for gas quality and reserve estimation and mine quality.
“The aim is to answer whether it is feasible technically and financially to develop coalbed methane business in Lupane area.
“The objective is thus to obtain the resource potential of coalbed methane in Lupane.”
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Contracted companies would also be required to update geological maps, geochemical survey, ground geophysical survey and scout drilling results to identify the prospect of mining coal in the area.
Estimates say Zimbabwe has 40 trillion cubic feet of potentially recoverable gas in the Lupane-Lubimbi area.
According to a recent Zimbabwe Rapid Needs Assessment report compiled by Castalia Advisory Services on behalf of the World Bank, the government should come up with a clear strategy to extract the gas.
Besides gas for electricity generation for import substitution and for export, there are various investment opportunities which are available in the core and downstream industries from coalbed methane including production of a variety of chemicals, fertiliser production and gas to liquids producing diesel, specialist lubricants and waxes.
