Botswana: Greenfield project to invite bids late March

Botswana’s Ministry for Minerals, Energy and Water Resources has released an indicative timeframe for bids from shortlisted developers for a 300MW power project. Bidding is likely to take place in late March. Australia’s African Energy Resources (AFR) said it was among those shortlisted to receive the invitation, in Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power, and that should the bid be successful and proceed according to the indicative timeframe, then financial close could be achieved by year-end. AFR said the ministry was finalising the appointment of legal and transaction advisors for the project, to develop a minemouth coal plant at the company’s Sese coal field.