Bweengwa Geothermal (Zambia): baseload renewable power with helium and critical-minerals upside

The Bweengwa River Geothermal Project, developed by Kalahari GeoEnergy Ltd (KGE) in Southern Province, Zambia, is one of sub-Saharan Africa's most advanced sedimentary-basin geothermal resources. Over 14 years KGE has completed systematic exploration - geological mapping, geochemistry, geophysics, LiDAR, the drilling of 21 temperature-gradient and slim wells (~6,400 m), and flow and interference testing — with an independent feasibility study by Geologica and a subsurface review and 3D modelling by Baker Hughes.

The project delivers baseload renewable power — immune to the drought and load-shedding that constrain Zambia's hydro-dependent grid — together with direct-use thermal energy (heat and absorption chilling) for co-located agro-processing at a Multi-Facility Economic Zone. A shallow reservoir supports an initial ~3 MW (pilot); the deeper upflow target (>140°C) is expected to support ~20 MW, with long term potential of 80–100 MW.

Revenue streams

• Baseload electricity to the grid, private off-takers and a mini-grid

• Direct-use thermal energy (heat and cooling) to co-located processors

• Co-product upside (staged, not base case): unusually high helium content, plus lithium/ other critical raw materials from geothermal brine.

Investment sought

• Current round: to fund Phase 1 — a hybrid geothermal (ORC) plus solar demonstration plant and initial commercial development, including ~5 MW solar PV and deep-resource confirmation work (figures available upon request).

• Full development: for the pathway to ~20 MW across staged phases, suited to a blended capital stack (figures available upon request).

Why now. Zambia faces a structural power deficit, and the government has prioritised energy development projects for energy security.

Track record & backing. Over US$14m invested to date by shareholders and international investors; a USTDA feasibility grant; a US$3.2m REPP convertible facility; Baker Hughes as technical adviser; and a locally based team with a proven Zambian resource-development record (founder Peter Vivian-Neal previously co-founded and led Kiwara Plc).

What we're looking for at Africa Day. Equity investors for the pilot / initial-development round; DFIs, infrastructure funds, export-credit and blended-finance partners for the path to 20 MW; and strategic industrial-gas partners for helium off-take and co-development. Detailed technical and financial materials are available under NDA.

Contact: Byron Truscott, Catalyst Bridge, byron.truscott@catalystbridge.at (consultant; developer: Kalahari GeoEnergy Ltd).