BIH aims to deliver impact solutions
Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) is in discussions with Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) to explore the most effective business model for possible commissioning of more mobile saline water treatment technology units. This follows the successful commissioning of a mobile saline water treatment technology unit to the residents of Zoroga village in July 2017. CEO, Alan Boshwean says the technology is designed to treat any type of water into drinking water. It eliminates all solids, impurities, chemicals, bacteria and viruses from raw water. So far, Botswana has not been able to sustain technologies that are able to desalinate underground water that the country mostly depends on. BIH also worked with the Embassy of Israel to Botswana to identify key strengths in clean technologies from Israel, which can lead to initiatives to forge partnerships in water and energy related technologies that best suit the local environment. The partnership also seeks to work with local research and water quality organisations to better their products locally. The introduction, testing and further development of the technology can be used as a basis for design and implementation of local water treatment and purification centers in rural areas.“The dual water treatment system is one of the innovations that have the potential of positive national impact given that the country experiences high water stress and incidents of salinity of underground water reserves,” Boshwean says. Double Stage Water Treatment System integrates elements of: coagulation, cyclonic separation, double stage filtration and disinfection; as well as a Reverse Osmosis System for removal of salts in Zoroga village in the Nata- Gweta area. Further efforts are underway with Hydrocon-Green, a citizen company to commission a further enhanced water treatment plant based on the use of solar power in Sojwe. BIH is pursuing an initiative to develop solar testing and demonstration facility. The technical feasibility study of the project has made recommendations on the options for implementing the project and has also identified critical stakeholders that need to be involved for the successful implementation of the project. Discussions with Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) are ongoing with regards to grid access, and Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) from a renewable energy regulatory framework development perspective. Furthermore, BIH will work with BERA to develop programmes for capacity building, as well as to explore research and development on storage in renewables.