[miningmx.com] – ANDRE Boje brought his 10 month, self-imposed exile from Southern Africa’s coal market to an end today with the announcement he is to be CEO of Minergy, an unlisted coal development firm operating in Botswana.
Minergy’s principle asset is Masama, a coal prospect in the Mmamabula coalfields where many-a coal dream has foundered, including those of CIC Energy after it failed to strike a coal supply agreement with South African utility, Eskom.
Minergy said in a press statement that Masama contains a reported 2.8 billion tonnes of export quality coal, but that it intended developing a multi-product mine that would also supply power utilities in Southern Africa as well as the 16 million tonne year (mtpa) regional coal merchanting business.
Said Boje: “I am pleased to be joining Minergy as the projects offer vast potential, ranging from supplying the coal merchant market and regional power generators to potential exports to Europe, Asia and India”.
Minergy also planned to explore other investment opportunities in southern Africa which to which Boje was keen to “impart my knowledge”.
Boje was the co-founder of Chandler Coal in 1997 which he listed as Wescoal Holdings – a firm to which Boje gave traction in the last two years prior to his resignation, taking it from a 1.5mtpa producer to about 4mtpa once its Elandspruit mine is at full tilt.
However, he fell out with Wescoal Holdings chairman, Robinson Ramaite – a dispute Boje feared could destroy the business hence his decision in late March 2015 to quit. Wescoal has not yet appointed a full-time CEO to replace Boje.
Claude de Bruin, executive director of Minergy and previously at Platmin (now Sedibelo Platinum in which Pallinghurst Resources is invested), said he was pleased to have Boje on board.
“Regardless of the energy mix, more of every kind of energy will need to be harnessed as efficiently and responsibly as possible as millions of people are pulled out of poverty,” said De Bruin in a statement.
“There is no doubt that the demand for energy will not dissipate, and high quality energy assets such as Masama will play a key role,” he said.
