Tlou Energy, the country’s most advanced Coal Bed Methane developer, says construction of its delayed Lesedi substation is now at 90 percent, with completion necessary to achieve grid access for gas fired power for the first time in the country’s history.
In a quarterly update released this week, Tlou directors said in the third quarter, key subcontractors had been identified to finalise the work and the remaining items needed two to three months. The directors said while initially expected to have been completed in 2025, work on the substation had been delayed by funding.
The aim now is to complete it so that both gas-fired and solar power can flow through to the national grid. Tlou has plans to develop a five-megawatt solar plant at its licence area in the Central District, with expectations to expand this to 20MW, essentially building a hybrid energy project.
Tlou has a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Botswana Power Corporation to provide 10MW from the Lesedi project into the national grid. The company has plans to raise its production to a 25MW target and beyond that, 100MW.
