The Botswana government has selected London-listed junior Tlou Energy as its preferred bidder to develop up to 100 megawatts of coalbed methane-fired power plants in the coal-rich country.

Tlou received written confirmation of the government's decision this week, with managing director Tony Gilby saying the company “will now progress with additional work on the ground to deliver a gas-to-power solution that can bring significant benefits to the country and to our shareholders”.