More wells required20 Jan 2020 16:03
RNS stated:
'The Lesedi 3 and 4 pods are producing water in isolation which makes dewatering a slower and more difficult exercise than would otherwise be the case in a full field development. In a field development scenario, an array of wells would be located adjacent to each other which would serve to facilitate dewatering.'
This is what causes me most concern, we've been told by TG that the volume of water being extracted indicates good permeability of the coal, but it also suggests to me that water pumping from 2 pods is not enough to bring down the level of water sufficiently to generate sufficient negative pressure within the gas wells. I think Tlou are in a 'catch 22' situation, the only way of getting water level down to the required level are more pods, but where's the money coming from to pay for these new pods? It seems to me that the management are planning (or hoping) to have a temporary PPA awarded by the Bots government to then convince the proposed lenders to provide funds for more gas pods. These proposed pods, if successfully working together in unison, may ultimately then provide more than enough gas for all the pods (including the existing ones at Lesedi 3 & 4). This is a big risk for any lender, because as we have been reminded of many times recently that Tlou are the first CBM company working in this area. I can't see that level of risk being taken by a lender without some form of significant dilution to shareholders. Also, constructing and operating (say) 10 new pods to the point that the area is fully dewatered is probably 18 months away, assuming that Tlou can secure the funds very soon.
It was a month ago that Colm was saying 'were almost there, hang in guys, don't lose hope etc etc..' yet another month goes by without progress. Then in the RNS we're reminded of (again)the desperate power grid situation in Southern Africa. We know that! That's why we invested. I don't think the Bots government really care! if they did, this whole process would have been fast tracked by now. Three years ago we were invited to tender for 100 MW of power, plate techtonics move faster than the Bots Government, why on earth would it take nearly a year to review a tender?