Tlou plans hydrogen prototype at its Botswana CBM project
Africa-focused Tlou Energy on July 30 announced it had signed binding heads of agreement (HOA) with fellow Australian hydrogen developer Synergen Met.
The agreement envisages the construction and commissioning of hydrogen and solid carbon prototype to be installed at the Tlou-operated Lesedi coalbed methane project in Botswana. Synergen utilises plasma technology to convert methane to hydrogen and solid carbon via a carbon-neutral process.
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Synergen has already built a first-generation working prototype developed in conjunction with the University of Queensland that has produced hydrogen and sodium cyanide for commercial applications, Tlou said. Design work has begun to modify this unit to produce hydrogen and solid carbon using Tlou's existing gas flows and approvals. The prototype will be constructed and tested in Queensland prior to transport to Tlou's Lesedi project early next year.
Tlou said the post-prototype objective is to grow this segment of its clean energy business via a joint venture with Synergen throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and potentially beyond, subject to mutual agreement. The HOA also contemplates Tlou's potential participation in Synergen's proposed initial public offering, currently scheduled for later this year.