In his first official address last week, Vice President and Finance Minister, Ndaba Gaolathe, discussed the previous administration’s Integrated Resource Plan, which targeted 30% renewable energy by 2030 and 50% by 2036. He confidently announced then that the new government intends to surpass this target in a significantly shorter time frame. “As the incoming government, we are setting our sights even higher,” Gaolathe stated. “I won’t specify percentages, but we are aiming beyond previous ambitions, because our people envision more,” he noted. He highlighted Botswana’s immense solar potential, noting that the country ranks third globally for solar radiation exposure, with approximately 3, 200 hours of sunshine annually. “With this resource, there is no reason Botswana cannot become a hub for solar-generated power,” Gaolathe asserted. “Everyone knows that Botswana has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 15% by 2030. Yet, we aspire to even more. “That said, as a small, developing nation, we need some flexibility to build our economy to a stage where we can uphold ambitious carbon commitments,” he added.
The minister also emphasised his government’s commitment to significant advancements through research and development, particularly in the fields of science and renewable energy. The 2020 Resource Plan envisioned an increase in national power supply by over 1,200 megawatts, with several projects already underway. However, Gaolathe believes these projections fall short of the country’s potential. Delivering his maiden budget speech, Gaolathe shared that the development of the energy sector away from the coal-powered industry to greener options such as Solar energy. “Another important aspect of our diversification drive is the modernisation of the power sector, with a strategic shift towards a solar-dominated energy industry,” he said.
