- An MOI agreement is close to being penned between the governments of Botswana and Namibia for a mega, 5000MW solar PV park.
- The ambitious project was originally considered back in September 2019. Read more
- The deal includes several financial partners namely; the African Development Bank (AfDB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Bird) and the US government’s Power Africa (the main driver).
- The agreement will pave the way for identification of site/s and pre-feasibility studies for the mega project to begin.
Botswana’s Deputy Permanent Secretary for Mineral Resources, Energy Security and Green Technology, Nchena Mothebe, estimates that the initial studies will cost 20 million Botswana Pulas, or USD1.84 million. According to Mothebe, financial partners joining the project are expected to contribute to the funding of these studies, which will help estimate the overall cost of the mega-project.
Related news: Botswana and Namibia team up for 5000MW solar generation inititaive
The project is expected to be open to IPP’s similar to the 1650MW Benban solar complex model in Egypt. If it gets off the ground, mega solar facility will see to the power needs of both countries plus the export power to neighbouring countries via the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
Both countries are currently dependent on imports from South Africa
Namibia currently imports over 60% of its electricity from South Africa while Botswana imports around 70% of its power needs from South Africa.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
