News / Local
Zimbabwe might lose Lupane methane gas to Botswana
21 Mar 2012 at 07:18hrs | Views
Zimbabwe might lose out on its rich coal-bed methane gas reserves in Lupane as Botswana has already started tapping into the shared resource, the NewsDay has reported
Speaking to captains of industries in Bulawayo last week during a Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries meeting, the Zimbabwe Reserve bank Governor, Gideon Gono, accused government of delaying exploitation of the gas.
"According to the United States, we have the largest reserves of methane gas in sub-Saharan Africa here in Lupane.
"But we are not exploiting it and it is now flowing to Botswana which is exploiting it," he said without elaborating.
Industry experts say the Hwange area holds vast deposits of coal-bed methane gas â€" some of it estimated to be 95% pure methane â€" hidden between Hwange and neighbouring Botswana.
In 2007, government singled out the gas project as a priority, but to date no developments have been undertaken at the site.
Speaking to captains of industries in Bulawayo last week during a Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries meeting, the Zimbabwe Reserve bank Governor, Gideon Gono, accused government of delaying exploitation of the gas.
"According to the United States, we have the largest reserves of methane gas in sub-Saharan Africa here in Lupane.
Industry experts say the Hwange area holds vast deposits of coal-bed methane gas â€" some of it estimated to be 95% pure methane â€" hidden between Hwange and neighbouring Botswana.
In 2007, government singled out the gas project as a priority, but to date no developments have been undertaken at the site.
Source - newsday
