DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania,
June 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- Continental Energy Corporation (OTCQB: CPPXF) (the
"Company"), an emerging international energy developer,
today announced that its Tanzanian subsidiary, Ruaha River Power
Company Ltd. ("Ruaha Power"), has completed construction of
the central power house at its Malolo Mini-Grid development and
installed the first 90 kVA of combined electrical power generation
capacity consisting of two embedded units, a biomass gasifier
generator and a companion diesel-fired generator.
Tanzanian environmental consultants, Tansheq Ltd., were engaged
by Ruaha Power, and conducted a preliminary environmental impact
assessment ("PEIA") of the planned operation of the biomass
gasification generator at the power house site in Malolo. The PEIA
included sampling and laboratory analysis to ensure the plant's
emissions meet compliance standards set by Tanzania's National Environment Management
Council ("NEMC"). The completed PEIA was filed and NEMC
conducted a final on-site examination. The permitting process
culminated in a public review meeting held last week by NEMC with
local authorities and stakeholders. NEMC staff is now preparing the
final environmental compliance approvals, and the permits necessary
for start-up of the Malolo gasification generator are expected to
follow soon.
"The biomass gasification generator we installed in the Malolo
Mini-Grid was the first of its kind delivered in Tanzania and completing the steps required for
emissions certifications and environmental permitting for it have
taken longer than originally expected," said Company director and
Ruaha Power CFO, John Tate, who is
in charge of the Malolo Project. "Installation and testing of the
biomass gasification generator are now complete. Upon receipt of
the final environmental certificates we will commence the build-out
of the distribution network for delivering first power to
customers. No additional environmental permits are required. The
network will be constructed in accordance with technical and safety
standards meeting or exceeding those required by Tanzania's Energy and Water Utilities
Regulatory Authority."
About Ruaha Power: Ruaha Power is committed to
profitably developing and operating customized hybrid electrical
power generation and distribution networks ("Mini-Grids")
that are isolated from the main national electricity grid, and
supply underserved rural and small urban markets of Tanzania. In addition to its first Mini-Grid
at Malolo, Ruaha Power is conducting a feasibility study on a 25 MW
development of grid-connected generation capacity at potential
run-of-river hydropower sites on Tanzania's Lukosi River. Field survey, design,
and engineering for the Lukosi River feasibility study is being
conducted by a US based engineering firm, partially funded by a
grant from the U.S. Trade Development Agency. The Company owns a
65% stake in Ruaha Power.
About the Malolo Mini-Grid: Ruaha Power is
constructing its first Mini-Grid at Malolo, a village in the
Morogoro Region of central Tanzania. The Malolo Mini-Grid will utilize a
hybrid mix of 300 kW of biomass gasification / solar photovoltaic /
diesel generation capacity connected to subscribers at pre-pay
meters by a custom built local distribution network built to
national grid technical standards. An initial feasibility study,
which included the Malolo Mini-Grid area and the PEIA, was
partially funded by a grant from the Tanzania Rural Energy Agency,
made under its Tanzania Energy Development Access program with
funds provided by the World Bank and the Global Environmental Fund.
The biomass gasifier generator embedded in the Malolo Mini-Grid was
supplied by Husk Power Systems of India under a joint venture arrangement with
Ruaha Power. Ruaha Power shall own and operate the Malolo Mini-Grid
as an independent power producer and distribution network
operator.
On behalf of the Company,
Robert V. Rudman, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
www.continentalenergy.com
Forward Looking Statements - Any statements in this
news release that are not historical or factual at the date of this
release are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements
in this release include Ruaha Power's expectation to profitably
develop and operate its Mini-Grids, its construction plans and
installation schedule, and the Company's expectations for Ruaha
Power's future expansion and commercial performance. There are many
factors which may cause actual performance and results to be
substantially different from any express or implied plans,
estimates, forecasts, expectations, or objectives described in any
forward looking statements. Readers should also refer to the risk
disclosures outlined in the Company's regulatory disclosure
documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
available at www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to
update the information in this release. No securities regulatory
authority has either approved or disapproved the contents of this
news release.
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SOURCE Continental Energy Corporation