Botswana Chamber of Mines received interest from consumers of thermal coal in India and China to buy the raw material form the country.

The chamber is said to have received positive response from the Indian consumers after the former made a presentation about Botswana coal, Charles Siwawa CEO of Botswana Chamber of Mines said.

Consumers of coal from India and China recently made enquiries about assisting Botswana to develop its export quality thermal coal resources, Siwawa said.

It may be noted that both India and China are looking for sources of energy to support their fast growing economies.

Botswana is reportedly having an estimated coal reserve of 212 billion tonne, although none has been commercially exported outside the continent owing to the absence of cost effective export routes to ports.

The Government of Botswana is reportedly finalizing studies on routes through Namibia to the west and Mozambique to the east, while South Africa has offered a limited route through Durban.

South Africa is said to be taking efforts to build transport network with Botswana as that would give the latter another route to the coast.