Zimbabwes Petroleum shortages have affected the countrys Coal industry. The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), which transports the majority of the coal produced at Zimbabwes Wankie Colliery, has been forced to ground some of its trains because of diesel fuel shortages. In September 2005, Rio Tinto Zimbabwe (RioZim) sought investments for the stalled Sengwa coal project. An estimated $2 million is needed to continue work on the project. According to RioZim, the area could have 2.2 billion short tons of coal reserves.
In Botswana, Meepong Resources (a subsidiary of CIC Energy) has ownership rights to the Mmamabula east and Mmamabula south coal prospecting licenses. However, Highlands Star Group (HSG) is seeking an 80 percent shareholding interest in Meepong Resources, which would give them majority ownership. The Botswana Ministry of Minerals and Energy estimates that Mmamabula contains proven coal reserves of 4.7 Mmst. CIC has plans to develop a coal-fired power station, which would supply electricity to the Southern African power grid beginning in 2011, or to supply thermal coal from the mine to power producers already producing electricity.