Coy commences coal exploration in Enugu
June 6, 2008
A Nigerian based international coal explorers, the Midblet Mines Group and Power Plant, a subsidiary of Western Coal Field Limited has commenced coal exploration at Obollo Afor in Enugu State.

The chairman of the company, Mr. Philip Pereira disclosed this during a meeting between the company’s management and officials of the Enugu State government at the Government House, Enugu.

Mr. Pereira told the governor that geological survey carried out in the field shows that the soil is stable without any fear of volcanic eruption

He said that they have plans to dig about six coal boreholes at the site and expect to produce about three million metric tones of coal from the boreholes.

He stated their proposed one thousand mega watts power plant at the mining site would be powered by the coal from the mine.

According to Mr. Pereira, the company also has license to explore and mine coal at Benue, Kogi, Enugu, Anambra and Delta States, adding that they have plans to build the same mega watts of power plant in each of those states.

He therefore solicited the cooperation of the state government to ensure the success of the venture.

Earlier in his speech while welcoming the visitors, the state governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime expressed government’s readiness to cooperate with the company towards the exploration and exploitation of the coal deposit in the state.

The governor regretted that coal industry which used to be one of the major sources of revenue in the country is collapsing and expressed the hope that the present arrangement with the company would help the state benefit from the rich mineral deposit it was endowed with.

Governor Chime thanked them for coming to the state to establish and said, “we will give you all the cooperation you need. We are interested in what you are pursuing.  We hope you will extract coal in large quantity in the state.”