Highlights:
• Environmental approval granted for development of the Serowe CBM gas project,
Project Naledi.
• Critical component of Mining Licence - application in progress.
• Operations recommence at Botala’s maiden commercial well pilot, Project Pitse.
• Important milestone in the 20MW solar/gas hybrid commercial pilot under
development.
• Preparation for 3-hole exploration programme underway.
• Two further Environmental Impact Assessments in advanced appraisal process for
development of the Serowe and Leupane Energy Hubs hybrid gas/solar plants.
Botala Energy Ltd is pleased to advise that it has received environmental approval to
proceed with commercial development of its Serowe Coal Bed Methane (CBM) Project (called Project Naledi) near
Serowe, complete with a ~100km pipeline from the wellfield to its proposed Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park
near Palapye. The approval was granted on schedule and without public objections following appraisal of Botala’s
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which included comprehensive community consultations.
As operator of the Naledi CBM Project, Botala plans to develop the CBM well field. It is in advanced stages of requesting
conversion of some of its prospecting licences to Mining Licences following successful CBM exploration.
Development will consist of:
• Well heads and gas gathering network of subsurface pipes connected to the Central Processing Facility within
the wellfield for removal of water and impurities.
• Gas supply to the proposed 20MW gas/solar hybrid pilot in Serowe, currently under advanced planning.
• Gas being compressed into an export pipeline to the proposed Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park.
• Water disposal from evaporation ponds; a reverse osmosis plant to treat saline water is under consideration.
• Network of infield pipelines and service tracks.
This environmental approval is a significant milestone. Two other EIAs are in their final assessment processes, namely:
developments of the Serowe Energy Hub and the Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park. The EIAs for these
downstream projects are out for public assessment which is the final stage before awarding approval.
Project Pitse - Update
Operations have recommenced at project Pitse with a coring rig set to mobilise to site during the week commencing 22
January. Cores will be taken from the three intersected seams in the fifth and final well, Serowe-3.4, of this 5-well pilot
cluster, for desorption testing in our field laboratory. Once the cores have been retrieved, the four wells will be completed.
Surface and downhole equipment from Brisbane has started to arrive in Botswana with the final containers due to land
in Durban within the next 2 weeks.
Exploration Programme
Ground magnetics and AMT lines have commenced for a 3 ‘slim-hole’ exploration drilling campaign, with the aim of
increasing our geological understanding and lithology in large step-outs from the Pitse area. The wells are not designed
for production. Current operations are in:
Mining Licence Application
Application for the conversion of Prospecting Licences 356, 400 and 19 to Mining Licences is in progress. The granted
environmental approval is a key consideration in approving this conversion, as is our about to be completed Feasibility
Study. Botala anticipates submitting its application for a Mining Licence in January 2024.
Botala CEO Kris Martinick commented “Awarding of Environmental Approval is always a major milestone for
any project. It reduces the number of remaining hurdles for development of this project. We are excited to have
recommenced operations after a well-earned break across the Christmas period.”
This ASX announcement was approved and authorised for release by the CEO.
