Botswana Awards Contract for 100MW Solar Plant

Botswana has awarded a $78.3 million contract to a consortium led by China Harbour Engineering Company to construct a 100-megawatt solar power plant, aiming to achieve 50% renewable energy by 2036. The project, located in Jwaneng, is set to be completed by the second quarter of 2026 and will be Botswana's second utility-scale renewable energy facility. Currently, renewable energy accounts for only 2% of the country's electricity generation, which relies heavily on coal. The government is also pursuing additional renewable projects, including a 200-megawatt solar-thermal plant and two 50-megawatt battery-storage systems in collaboration with the World Bank. President Mokgweetsi Masisi emphasized that this initiative is crucial for the country's energy transition and climate change mitigation efforts. The success of this solar project will be closely observed as it may influence future investments in Botswana's clean energy sector.