CIC Energy, British Virgin Islands, has received a feasibility study for it’s planned coal-to-liquids project. The feasibility study results are positive. The project is based on converting coal from the Mmamabula Coal Field in Botswana, South Africa to fuels and petrochemicals. Jacobs Engineering performed the study and they evaluated three options for CIC Energy.

The three options analyzed in the study are:

The study evaluated two entrained flow coal gasifiers: the Shell Coal Gasification Process technology and the Siemens SFG technology. The gasification technologies were evaluated based upon coal utilization, environmental friendliness, robustness, carbon conversion efficiency, reliability based upon the physical characteristics of the Mmumubula Coal Field. The study recommended Shell and CIC has entered into an Option Agreement with Shell to acquire a technology license.

The study included an evaluation of the capital expenditure required. The estimate is based on June 2008 costs and is considered a “budget” +/- 30% estimate. The estimate includes equipment, material, construction for the coal gasification island, methanol unit(s), methanol-to-gasoline and DME units and the pipeline for Alternative #3.

CIC Energy is proceeding with evaluation by Shell Global Solutions to determine the optimum end product mix for the project.