Besides the solar and gas plants, also approved in the environmental licence are supportive batteries for energy storage, gas generators or turbines to provide baseload electricity, and transformers to connect to the national grid.
The approval also includes a photovoltaic solar panel manufacturing plant for which a Special Economic Zone Licence was granted in March, as well as plants Liquefied Natural Gas and Compressed Natural Gas as well as the beneficiation of minerals such as copper.
Botala CEO, Kris Martinick, said whilst Botala’s prime focus is the development of its coal-bed methane gas project, the secondary focus is on developing related renewable energy and other related opportunities.
Martinick said the 1,520-hectare Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park adjacent to Palapye in Botswana, is poised to become a cornerstone for renewable and gas-fired power generation in the region. The 500MW solar farm will be done in stages, with the first phase to be developed in a joint venture with AAAS Energy BV (AAAS) of the Netherlands.
An agreement has been reached for AAAS to fund all initial development capital and a bankable feasibility study is due for completion by the end of this year.
