Botswana to develop biggest solar plant in region
Strides made in longterm energy development
Government is yet to receive the green light from Power Africa to finalise the deal on the development of the first solar power plant in Botswana.
The plant is anticipated to be the biggest in southern Africa and will pit Botswana as a solar capital. President Mokgweetsi Masisi revealed that Government is yet to receive a proposal from the energy company Power Africa to build the solar plant that will produce 25 gigawatts of electricity. “We await Power Africa to make a formal proposal to Cabinet, and then we can deliberate on it and start to finalise the details,” Masisi said. The development of the solar plant is anticipated to have a positive impact on the country’s carbon emissions, considering that electricity from natural gas generally has lower emissions compared to electricity from coal. Power Africa is backed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development - World Bank - and African Development Bank. This development forms part of investment in long- term debt financing for the first grid- connected solar PV projects in Botswana through one of the country’s climate funds.
Botswana recently rolled out the Bobonong ( 3MW) and Shakawe ( 1MW) solar projects to set up power purchase agreements with stateowned utility Botswana Power Corporation ( BPC) for a period of 25 years.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Green Technology, the signing of the PPAs marks a “milestone in Botswana’s clean energy commitments” as it seeks to reduce its carbon emission and reliance on fossil fuel- generated electricity. Botswana has already finalised deals on the operation and maintenance of 12 solar PV power projects. It is anticipated in a few years’ time, Botswana could possibly generate enough power to meet its domestic needs.
For the past two decades, Botswana has had a solar energy- based rural electrification programme aimed at increasing the share of renewable energy sources in Botswana, which is still at a marginal rate. To date, solar energy plays a leading role in this plan to increase the share of renewable energy production, and the overall aim is to boost energy security and self- sufficiency in electricity generation in Botswana.
Currently, the electrification rate is at 65 percent, which is relatively high compared to other countries in the southern Africa region although Botswana is still dependent on imports from Eskom in South Africa to cover its national electricity demand.