mining news
13
06.13
Australia’s Hodges Resources, listed on the
ASX, says it has completed the earn in com-
mitment with SDNP Manufacture Mining and
Construction Services (SDNP) on the Moru-
pule South coal project.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hodg-
es has earned 75 % of the project by pay-
ing SDNP US$0,5 million on execution of the
agreement and spending US$3 million over
two years on the project. The companies will
now incorporate a special proprietary com-
pany in Botswana that will hold the permit
(formation of the JVCo); Hodges can then ex-
ercise its option to acquire an additional 24 %
in the JVCo once this is complete.
Hodges recently concluded a 2 500 m drill-
ing programme over the shallow coal area
within the eastern block of the project. The
programme completed the outstanding ex-
penditure commitment for the joint venture.
Hodges’ Managing Director, Mark Major,
said the company was extremely happy with
reaching this milestone, as well as the proj-
ect’s progress and exploration thus far.
“It is clear we have a sizeable asset with low
cost operational and capital development op-
portunities in a developing region. The area is
becoming more active with the Government
of Botswana tendering the refurbishment
of the Morupule A power station (132 MW)
and announcing a Request for Prequalifica-
tion from independent power producers for
a 300 MW power development next to the
nearly completed Morupule B power station
(600 MW), all of which will be less than 8 km
from our proposed mine.”
Major added that developments in rail
haulage were also afoot with South Africa’s
Bell Equipment Company has handed over
a fully equipped computer laboratory to the
Port St Johns Junior Secondary School.
“It is a privilege for us as a company to
make a meaningful contribution to educa-
tion in this part of the Eastern Cape and we
trust that this computer lab will serve the
429 learners and their parents at the Port St
Johns Junior Secondary School as well as be
a catalyst to kick-start real achievements in
education in South Africa,” said Bell Equip-
ment board member, Tiisetso Tsukudu.
The idea for the creation of a computer fa-
cility at the school was first mooted by the
school’s principal, Rian Erasmus, and former
ward councillor, Alfred Ncoyini. The council-
lor subsequently invited the Eastern Cape
MEC for Transport, Roads & Public Works,
Thandiswa Marawu, to visit the school.
The school is among four ‘needy schools’
adopted by MEC Marawu in response to
a call by Premier Noxolo Kiviet’s office that
education was a “societal” issue involving
parents, communities and business.
Bell Equipment became involved through
Bruce Ndlela, the company’s Director: Busi-
ness and Public Sector Development, who
strongly advocated the merits of a substantial
donation to fund the laboratory.
Bell donates computer facility to secondary school
Pictured at the handover of the computer facility are (from left) Tiistso Tsukudu, Bell Equipment board
member, Cllr Danisile Mangqo, Executive Mayor of Port St Johns, Thandiswa Marawu, MEC for Roads,
Transport and Public Works, and Rian Erasmus, Principal of Port St Johns Junior Secondary School.
The 164 m
2
facility comprises a computer
room, classroom and two storerooms. A firm
of SMME architects designed the facility
while construction was undertaken by a joint
venture of two Port St Johns-based compa-
nies, Kenani Trading and Yondiselekani.
Hodges Resources earns 75 % of Morupule South
Transnet Freight Rail having revealed plans to
open the rail link for the Waterberg area into
Botswana by 2020 during the recent Coal-
trans – Southern Africa coal conference.
“It is also known that recently our neigh-
bours – the Morupule coal mine – reached
an agreement with Botswana railways and
Transnet to commence carrying their coal to
the port of Durban in South Africa to supply
international markets,” Major commented.
Hodges intends to move the Morupule
South project forward in line with the regional
development and is currently working to-
wards feasibility level studies.
The Morupule South prospect is located
within the eastern central district of Botswa-
na, adjacent to the Morupule colliery and
power station, the only operational coal-fired
power plant in Botswana.
