SPEDU seeks Swedish funds for pilot energy park

SELEBI-PHIKWE: The Selebi-Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) is negotiating for funds from Sweden to establish a pilot energy park. "Funds have been requested for feasibility study on alternative energy and recycling projects," the agency's communications manager, Kenneth Boikhutswane has said. He said a pre-feasibility study by SPEDU has discovered good potential for various technologies such as solar power, biogas and waste-to-energy.

He explained that the technologies are in line with twinning key result areas between Selebi-Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) and Trollhatan Municipality in Sweden. He said that SPEDU through the Re-employment Account will continue funding the follow-up feasibility studies and benchmarking on the recycling and alternative energy initiatives.

He stated that SPEDU is currently sourcing funds from Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to support agricultural development. FAO can give up to $400,000 in grants to support agriculture. “Botswana has not tapped into this grant. The country has never thought of accessing this grant before. We are engaging a wide base of stakeholders in the private sector to support the economic diversification programme through funds and resources,” he explained.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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