Oman Fund to back Botswana’s 500MW solar push
Lewanika Timothy | Wednesday November 12, 2025 06:00
The funding suit was announced by President Duma Boko last week Thursday who added that they have engaging the Omanians who are also ready to roll out projects in the country. He said the investment will be channelled through the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), following high-level talks during his recent visit to Muscat. An OIA delegation is expected in Botswana on November 26 to begin preparations for the project’s rollout in Maun and Letlhakane. “We have engaged the Omanis at a government-to-government level, and they are ready to roll out projects in Maun and Letlhakane,” Boko said in his address to Parliament.
“This initiative will significantly reduce the cost of electricity production. As a result, electricity prices for consumers will go down, the base-load grid will be stabilised, and government subsidies to the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) will no longer be necessary.” Botswana currently relies on imports from South Africa’s Eskom and the Southern African Power Pool to meet about a quarter of its electricity demand, with the country’s generation capacity often constrained by the struggling Morupule B power station. State-owned Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has been operating under financial pressure, sustained by annual government subsidies estimated at about $75 million. It is believed that the 500MW project could more than double the country’s current effective generation capacity and support the national goal of achieving energy self-sufficiency by 2030.
The inclusion of large-scale battery storage is also expected to stabilise supply during peak demand and improve integration of renewable sources into the grid. President Boko added the agreement with Oman represents a shift toward sustainable partnerships aimed at addressing structural bottlenecks in the economy. “This partnership will not only save the government money but also strengthen BPC’s financial position, ensuring sustainability and energy security for our country,” he said. If implemented on schedule, the Maun and Letlhakane projects would mark Botswana’s largest renewable energy investment to date and a major step in reducing its carbon footprint and dependence on fossil fuels.