The project will be built by a Turkish company Soventix, which has subcontracted Proconics, a South African-based company and Energy Systems, a Botswana-based outfit.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Sturdee Executive Director James White said that on average the project will produce 8,500,000 kWh of power per year, which translates into enough clean renewable power to supply approximately 4,500 Botswana households annually. He added that power will be supplied through a 7.5km, 66kV overhead line, from the project site through to the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) substation just outside Bobonong.
“The project will also use state-of-the-art technology, where it will consist of 7,038 bifacial solar panels, which not only harvest the sun’s energy in the front of the panel but also use the back of the panel to capture the reflection of the sun off of the floor,” he said.
In 2020 Sturdee was awarded two solar projects, the three megawatts in Bobonong and one megawatt in Shakawe by BPC under its tender for grid-tied solar projects. The two projects are the first private renewable energy projects in Botswana and will supply BPC under a power purchase agreement for 25 years.
White also explained that both the Shakawe and Bobonong projects are entirely funded by Responsibility, a Switzerland-based financial institution, with money amounting to P50 million. “Responsibility has also supported some of the key studies required to establish the project’s feasibility,” White said.
BPC chief executive officer (CEO), David Kgoboko said that the development of the Bobonong power station signals that the country is on committed to the Paris Agreement and COP26 requirements.
He added that the corporation, in partnership with government is making progress towards the introduction of more solar-based power stations in the country’s energy mix.
“Three weeks ago, BPC signed three solar power purchase agreements for Lobatse, Maun and Gantsi each with a capacity of 4MW. We are about to conclude negotiations for solar power purchase agreements for the Molepolole site (which is another 4MW power station) and a 50 MW solar power plant to be located in Selebi-Phikwe. All these are expected to be signed in April this year,” he said.
He added that BPC and government are in the process of securing investors for another 50MW solar plant to be built in Jwaneng and six small grid-tied plants in Kasane, Tutume, Serowe, Kang, Tsabong and Charleshill.
