Botswana, Namibia to sign 5GW solar power deal

Natural power: The project, if successful, will be among the continentu00e2u20acu2122s largest PIC: ENGINEERINGNEWS.CO.ZA
Natural power: The project, if successful, will be among the continentu00e2u20acu2122s largest PIC: ENGINEERINGNEWS.CO.ZA

Botswana and Namibia are preparing to sign a deal with a US energy firm which will see the development of up to 5,000 megawatts of solar power across installations in both countries, BusinessWeek has learnt.

Power Africa, a US-government entity aimed at boosting electricity investment in Africa, is partnering with the two governments for the project which will target exports into the region. Power Africa’s mandate includes helping to close financial deals in electricity investment, with 141 agreements finalised worth US$22 billion since its launch in 2013.

The Botswana-Namibia deal, mentioned as a priority in the Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan, would be one of the world’s largest solar projects, ranking amongst the top 20. Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security permanent secretary, Mmetla Masire told BusinessWeek that the three partners had been due to sign a Memorandum of Intent earlier this year, before the onset of COVID-19 set back negotiations.

Editor's Comment
Routine child vaccination imperative

The recent Vaccination Day in Motokwe, orchestrated through collaborative efforts between UNICEF, USAID, BRCS, and the Ministry of Health, underscores a commendable stride towards fortifying child health services.The painful reality as reflected by the Ministry of Health's data regarding the decline in routine immunisation coverage since the onset of the pandemic, is a cause for concern.It underscores the urgent need to address the...

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