Xinhua reported that Kenya energy ministry officials are set to meet key investors for negotiations on the mining of some 400 million tonnes of coal in Eastern Kenya as more exploratory work begins in other blocks.

Kenya plans to develop gas powered electricity plants to boost energy production as the East African nation seeks to replace ageing power plants whose carbon emissions are increasingly getting larger amid pressure to cut greenhouse gases.

Mr Patrick Nyoike Kenya Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary said that negotiations with the investors could result in the signing of production agreements for the exploitation of the coal from Block C.

He said that “We have a meeting on Thursday with some of the prospective investors. We are at this point talking about the exploitation of the coal. We are also continuing with the exploration of coal on block D.”

Earlier the Energy ministry official who attended an annual general meeting of the state run energy firm, the Kenya Electricity Generating Company said the government would engage the firm in the exploitation of the coalmines.

Mr Nyoike said “We have four blocks. In Block C, we have 400 million tonnes of coal. They would be exploited in five years. We would involve the KENGEN and cement manufacturing companies.”

South African firm, Continental Coal which has two coalmines in South Africa for export production is amongst the firms which have been engaged in talks with the Kenyan energy ministry officials on the coal exploration.

The Mui Coal Basin in Eastern Kenya which has the four block measures around 490 square kilometres covers this district namely Mutitu, Mwingi East and Mwingi Central districts in Eastern Kenya.

(Sourced from Xinhua)