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Kalahari GeoEnergy spuds second exploration well for project in Zambia

Kalahari GeoEnergy spuds second exploration well for project in Zambia Early exploration drilling on site in Zambia (source: Kalahari GeoEnergy)
Alexander Richter 11 Sep 2013

Geothermal developer Kalahari GeoEnergy announces it has spudded the second well in its exploration drilling programme near Lochinvar in Monze District, Southern Province, Zambia.

Kalahari GeoEnergy, a Zambian based geothermal exploration company, announces it has spudded the second well in its exploration drilling programme near Lochinvar in Monze District, Southern Province, Zambia.

Lochinvar: The Lochinvar geothermal target lies within the Kafue Trough, a Karoo-era sedimentary basin over which the Company holds geothermal energy exploration rights and within which the Company has identified a number of geothermal targets.

Exploration Programme: In the period from 2011 the Company’s exploration programme has included hydrochemistry together with ground magnetic, resistivity (Magneto-Telluric) and Bouguer gravity geophysics surveys. The interpretation of the data gained has been used to create a conceptual model.

Exploration Well Programme: Based upon the results of the survey programmes and the conceptual model, the Company is commenced on 12th August 2013 a shallow, slim well drill programme.

Peter Vivian-Neal, the CEO comments that “The initial results conform to the conceptual model and are encouraging; a full analysis and interpretation will be undertaken following completion of the drill programme. Meanwhile, the drilling programme conforms to Zambia’s environmental regulations and appropriate approvals are in place”.

Zambia hosts a number of geological structures associated with the East African Rift System, together with granites that are recognised as being prospective for geothermal energy. Historic work identified a number of prospective targets and a Zambian-Italian joint venture built a geothermal pilot plant on the Lake Tanganyika Rift structure in the 1980’s.

Zambia, while reliant on large scale hydro, does not have the current capacity to meet the demands of increasing investment in the agricultural, industrial and mining sectors, nor the domestic growth and rural electrification programmes; nationally, domestic access to power is currently less than 20%.”

Source: Kalahari GeoEnergy by email