Renewable energy delays irk Moagi
Otlarongwa Kgweetsi | Monday September 9, 2024 09:52
Speaking at a renewable energy projects briefing last week, Moagi told officials that progress should be accelerated, or those responsible would face severe consequences.
Moagi’s ire was sparked by revelations from Mukani Thapelo of the ministry’s Policy and Energy Development Unit who disclosed that two key projects were lagging: the 100MW Solar PV project set for a 195-hectare farm and the 100MW wind power project set for a 100 square kilometre site.
Despite considerable interest from 20 bidders, officials reported that the adjudication process had stalled, prompting Moagi to demand immediate action.
“Are you telling me that your estimations are that poor?” Moagi demanded. “Why are we adding two more months to the Letlhakane Solar PV tender? “There is nothing complex about solar PV projects. “We want things done now; there should be no excuses for these delays.”
In 2022, government decided to fast-track the renewable energy projects contained in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is the country’s blueprint for energy projects to be built or procured over the next 20 years.
Some of the projects to be fast-tracked under the IRP include the 200MW Concentrated Solar-Thermal Power and another 100MW solar power plant, to be located in Maun and Letlhakane. Government is also working with the World Bank to develop two 50MW battery storage systems, which will support the Jwaneng and Mmadinare solar photovoltaic projects.
Moagi’s frustration reflects the broader urgency to not only deliver clean energy projects but also reach electricity self-sufficiency and export status by 2030.
Moagi has called on the ministry’s engineers and consultants to adhere strictly to documented processes while expediting project timelines. He stressed that if there are shortcomings in the expertise required to contract independent power producers, the officials must alert the government without delay.
“We will source the necessary expertise. We cannot afford to derail our timelines,” Moagi said.
When government announced the fast-tracked IRP, experts both within and outside the ministry, expressed doubt that the new targets could be met due to the traditional red tape that afflicts public projects.
At the time, Moagi said the projects could happen within the set timelines with the right combination of skills and citizen empowerment.
“With every project, whatever the type, you need competence for it to be delivered,” he said. “That’s why some of the solar projects could not be delivered because the right competence was not found in those proposals hence now they are opened up and the critical thing is that there must be a local component in those partnerships. “We want them to plan in the timelines that are there, given the 20-year tenure and the delivery times of these projects, we believe that can still be achieved but we need the right combination of skills while helping Batswana.”
The minister's directive extends beyond addressing delays. Moagi urged the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) to engage with regional power buyers through the Southern Africa Power Pool and to fortify the national grid in preparation for the power surplus expected by 2026.
With the current peak demand of less than 700MW expected to be surpassed by over 1,000MW from IRP projects, the need for proactive measures is critical, he said.