LONDON (Alliance News) - Edenville Energy PLC on Wednesday said preliminary earth works have commenced at the Mkomolo deposit site at its Rukwa coal-to-power project, with focus currently on widening and upgrading the access road.
The Tanzanian-based company said, after the Mkomolo deposit site was awarded a mining licence in late February, earth works commenced at the site, and the first task to be completed was the rebuilding of the river crossings close to the deposit.
Work is currently underway on widening and upgrading the access road which links the main highway to the deposit site and colonial pit area, Edenville said.
Edenville added that work will continue on road building and upgrading for several more weeks and, once completed, the mobile earthmoving equipment will be put to work improving access to three local villages, as part of its corporate social responsibility commitment.
Social licence to operate will be an essential part of the project's path to successful completion, Edenville said.
The company said it was in discussions with groups who have expressed an interest in partnering Edenville in the project and providing finance for its further development, saying it will provide an update of the status of the discussions in "the near future".
"I am extremely pleased our team in Tanzania have been able to mobilise equipment so rapidly and start work on improving access to the site. This will allow greater flexibility to carry out further site works including bulk sample excavation and geotechnical drilling for the pit, along with preparatory site investigations for the power plant," said Chairman and Chief Executive Rufus Short.
"This work is the first part of the much bigger development that will ultimately be an integrated coal to power project supplying electricity and providing employment to the Rukwa Region and south western Tanzania," Short added.
Shares in Edenville were down 0.4% at 0.0274 pence on Wednesday.
By Hannah Boland; hannahboland@alliancenews.com; @Hannaheboland
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