Gov’t ramps up solar with 100MW Jwaneng launch
Otlarongwa Kgweetsi | Monday August 19, 2024 06:00
China Harbour Engineering in partnership with China Water and Electric Company will work with local investors on the project that is due for commission in the second quarter of 2026. Chinese media put the value of the contract at $78.3 million (P1.05 billion).
The Chinese consortium will finance, build, and maintain the plant, selling the electricity to the BPC under a 25-year contract. The deal also involves the construction of a 132-kilovolt substation and associated transmission lines to connect the plant to the national grid.
Speaking at the contract signing, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, said the Jwaneng project not only signified government’s commitment to increasing renewable energy generation but also the clean electricity to be produced would enhance the value of the country’s diamonds.
“Producing clean energy enhances the value proposition and provenance of our resources,” he said. “You get a much higher price and more willing buyers of our diamonds if they are produced from clean energy. “It also kills the argument made by those who produce fake diamonds saying our diamonds are produced from harmful energy.”
Under the government’s revised Integrated Resource Programme which details the generation to be bought or installed until 2040, Botswana intends to ramp up its renewable energy generation to 50% of demand by 2036.
“This project is not just about energy; it’s about keeping the promises we made to Batswana. “We are committed to delivering on our national pledges and ensuring that Botswana transitions to a more secure and sustainable energy future,” Masisi said.
The Jwaneng project comes after Scatec ASA, a Norwegian firm, began construction of a 100MW solar power station in Mmadinare in March, the country’s first utility-scale renewable energy plant.
Masisi said the Ministry of Minerals and Energy is also finalising procurement of a 200MW Concentrated Solar-Thermal Power and another 100MW solar power plant, to be located in Maun and Letlhakane. He added that government is also working with the World Bank to develop two 50MW battery storage systems, which will support the Jwaneng and Scatec projects.
For his part, BPC CEO David Kgoboko said the Jwaneng and Mmadinare plants would eliminate the country’s need for daytime electricity imports.
“The Jwaneng Solar PV plant is a cornerstone of our broader strategy to reduce carbon emissions and foster a sustainable energy future for Botswana. “This project represents a critical step in our national energy transformation journey,” he said.
In addition to enhancing energy security, the government has also ensured that Batswana play a significant role in the country’s energy transformation. To promote meaningful local participation, the government has reserved investments in small-scale solar PV projects exclusively for citizen-owned companies. Moreover, a minimum of 40% citizen shareholding has been mandated for all utility-scale solar PV projects.