The power stations, known as solar photovoltaic (PV) will be grid-tied, meaning their generation will feed into the national grid for supply around the country. The selected firms will develop and operate the power stations, selling the electricity to the BPC under 25-year contracts known as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). “This has been a very long journey that started in November 2018 when the Corporation floated an international open tender for the development, financing, construction, commissioning, ownership, operations, and maintenance of these solar PV power plants,” said BPC CEO, David Kgoboko.
The Corporation wanted 12 plants, but only identified one firm for the development and construction of two sites, being Bobonong and Shakawe, which are currently operational and supplying four megawatts to the grid. “The Corporation re-tendered for the remaining 10 sites in February 2020 and managed to award three sites in July 2021. “Unfortunately, the developer was unable to achieve financial close of all three sites. Two tenders were floated in July and September of 2023 for seven and three sites respectively,” the CEO said. The development of the small-scale solar plants was reserved for wholly citizen-owned companies, in line with government’s drive for citizen economic empowerment, he added.
