Solar Energy company drives rural electrification
Staff Writer | Thursday June 24, 2010 00:00
Each stand-alone solar power system will supply electricity to 100 households complete with solar street lights installed in the selected settlements.
The selection of these settlements will be based on several criteria one of which is being off grid.
During the first year, the installation will be managed and maintained by Solar Power.
The company will train residents to maintain the installations after their hand over to local authorities.
Early this year, Solar Power invited President Ian Khama, Vice-President Mompati Merafhe, Speaker of Parliament Margaret Nasha and MPs to nominate one off grid village in their constituencies to be fully solar-powered for free.
'The President sent us a letter and informed us that this project is under his consideration, and 15 MPs have responded by nominating a settlement in their constituencies,' Solar Power said in a statement. Solar Power is owned by Kgalagadi Resources Development Company.
It is the oldest private company dedicated to natural resources' development in Botswana under the motto that the sun is Botswana's sustainable diamond forever. 'As such, we made it our goal to make Botswana the first in Southern Africa with mega-scale solar power generation. And we are pleased to say towards this goal, considerable resources has been invested to bring it to present level which is close for its realisation,' the company said. Solar power has pioneered commercial introduction of solar water heating and photovoltaic projects for the last 35 years.
It remains the largest and only manufacturer of solar water heaters in Botswana with its solar collector panels certified in USA by Florida Centre for Solar Energy for distribution in America. The company is 100 percent citizen-owned.
It maintains an adaptable innovative entrepreneurial entity, with shareholders committed to the long-term consolidation of the competitiveness of the Botswana industry in an extended world market.