Scatec powers jobs
Phatsimo Kapeng | Wednesday September 2, 2026 10:43
Under the agreement, Scatec supplies electricity generated by the plant to BPC and is responsible for operating and maintaining the facility for the duration of the 25-year PPA.
Speaking during the launch, BPC chief executive officer David Kgoboko said the agreement provides the foundation for a long-term partnership between the national power utility and the renewable energy developer.
The project was developed in two 50MW phases. The first phase was commissioned in March 2025, while the second phase was completed in December 2025, bringing the facility to its full 100MW capacity.
The Mmadinare plant has contributed significantly to Botswana’s electricity supply, helping supplement domestic generation and reduce the country’s dependence on electricity imports from the Southern African Power Pool.
“The facility has recorded average availability and reliability of more than 99 percent, which is evidence of the plant’s performance and the value of collaboration between government, BPC and private-sector investors. Said Kgoboko.The project has also delivered a sizeable employment injection during construction.
For his part, Scatec executive vice president and general manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, Alberto Gambacorta, said 686 people were employed during the first construction phase, while another 515 were engaged during the second phase. However, the economic benefits have not been limited to direct employment.
Mmadinare community and surrounding areas have benefited from the project in services such as security, transportation, construction materials, catering and accommodation.
“The construction of the project created a significant number of jobs, most of these positions are temporary. The long-term economic value of the project will therefore, depend partly on whether skills-development and enterprise-support initiatives can translate the investment into sustainable employment and stronger local businesses” He said.
Scatec has consequently increased its focus on skills development, particularly among young people.The company has partnered with Y Care People to People to provide renewable energy skills to Batswana, while supporting efforts to address youth unemployment.
Gambacorta said Scatec’s community initiatives also cover computer training, marketing, agriculture, gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS awareness. The company has further supported schools and health facilities in communities surrounding the project.
The Mmadinare Solar PV Cluster is therefore, positioning itself as more than an electricity-generation project, with its footprint extending into employment, skills development, local business participation and community support.
The 25-year PPA provides BPC with a long-term source of renewable electricity while giving Scatec a committed off-taker for power generated by the facility.
For Botswana, the project comes at a time when the country is seeking to increase domestic electricity generation and reduce exposure to regional power shortages, import costs and volatile electricity markets.
However, the project's ultimate economic impact will be measured beyond its 243,288MWh generation figure and the more than 1,200 construction jobs created.
The sustainability of local employment, the growth of citizen-owned businesses, the transfer of renewable-energy skills and the extent to which the project helps reduce Botswana’s reliance on imported electricity will be key indicators of its long-term contribution to the economy.