'We cannot drag on projects of national importance'
The Minister of Minerals and Energy, Lefoko Moagi has cracked the whip on authorities working under his ministry to fast-track the country's ambitious integrated resource plan (IRP) delivery.
The blueprint launched in 2020 is continuously being revised, with expectations to meet the country’s power demand by 2040 and beyond. Moagi sternly encouraged engineers and consultants at the ministry to avoid delays, as
the country eyes to export surplus electricity by 2026.
With several renewable energy project in the pipeline, and at different stages of tendering the minister is confident the country's potential should be realised soon.
"We cannot drag on projects of national importance, speed is of essence," Moagi said urging the employees to follow documented processes while fast tracking projects. He implored the ministry authorities to alert government where there are lack of competences needed in the implementation of contracting independent power producers for renewable energy power plants.
"We will source it, we cannot afford to assault our timelines," Moagi said. Moagi's comments comes after Mukani Thapelo from the Ministry of Minerals and Energy's Policy and Energy Development Unit (PEDU) indicated that progress on the proposed 100MW Solar PV on the 195hectare farm and the 100MW Wind Power on the 10 kilometres by 10 kilometres farm are lagging behind on procurement due to various reasons.
Thapelo said the 100 MW is still at tendering stage, with 20 bidders having collected bidding forms and though the ministry has moved adjudication, a development that has irked Minister Moagi.
"Are you telling me that your estimations (on time-frames) are that poor. Why do we add two more months on the Letlhakane Solar PV tender, there is nothing sophisticated about solar PV projects?
"We want things done now; there is need to toe the line. The solar PV projects need to be delivered, there should be nothing stopping these projects," Moagi said.
The minister implored stakeholders in the energy industry through the utility company BPC to start conversation with regional power up takers with the Southern Africa Power Pool. He also encouraged BPC to reinforce the national grid network ahead of the anticipated power supply on 2026. Moagi indicated that the country's power supply demand at peak is still below 700MW, and all the project under the IRP will produce over 1000MW.
Moagi’s wrath comes after President Mokgweetsi Masisi has implored foreign independent power producers (IPPs) to comply with gazetted government instrument to cede 40 percent shareholding to locals.
Masisi said the instrument is a citizen empowerment scheme expected to distribute wealth amongst Batswana, as the country seeks to transition from a middle income economy to a high income economy.
Speaking at the launch of the second 100MW utility scale grid connected solar photovoltaic project, power purchase agreement in Jwaneng recently, Masisi beseeched for compliance with the set citizen shareholding for IPPs.
“Any breach will enjoy the wrath of my power, please make sure you comply,” Masisi said.
The President’s warning comes as the country’s energy Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) has plans to increase use of renewable energy through power purchase agreements with independent producers.
Apart from attracting foreign IPPs, the country intends to push citizen economic empowerment through ceding of 40 percent shareholding to citizens.
In addition, the Masisi said government will continue to revise and change the energy IRP to achieve the target of consuming 50 percent renewable energy by 2036.
The latest 100MW solar photovoltaic project has been awarded to a consortium of Botswana and Chinese companies under an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract, with an operation and maintenance contract of 25 years.
Masisi further revealed that the country aims to attain 1076 MW of renewable energy production by 2036 from solar plant projects.
“This is (transition to renewable energy) essentially a prerequisite to be attained, if we are to industrialize Botswana,” Masisi said. Masisi emphasised that the energy transition is imperative for the mitigation of climate change, de-carbonization of the country’s mining industry and to support national ambitions to export energy.
The blueprint launched in 2020 is continuously being revised, with expectations to meet the country’s power demand by 2040 and beyond. Moagi sternly encouraged engineers and consultants at the ministry to avoid delays, as
the country eyes to export surplus electricity by 2026.
With several renewable energy project in the pipeline, and at different stages of tendering the minister is confident the country's potential should be realised soon.
"We cannot drag on projects of national importance, speed is of essence," Moagi said urging the employees to follow documented processes while fast tracking projects. He implored the ministry authorities to alert government where there are lack of competences needed in the implementation of contracting independent power producers for renewable energy power plants.
"We will source it, we cannot afford to assault our timelines," Moagi said. Moagi's comments comes after Mukani Thapelo from the Ministry of Minerals and Energy's Policy and Energy Development Unit (PEDU) indicated that progress on the proposed 100MW Solar PV on the 195hectare farm and the 100MW Wind Power on the 10 kilometres by 10 kilometres farm are lagging behind on procurement due to various reasons.
Thapelo said the 100 MW is still at tendering stage, with 20 bidders having collected bidding forms and though the ministry has moved adjudication, a development that has irked Minister Moagi.
"Are you telling me that your estimations (on time-frames) are that poor. Why do we add two more months on the Letlhakane Solar PV tender, there is nothing sophisticated about solar PV projects?
"We want things done now; there is need to toe the line. The solar PV projects need to be delivered, there should be nothing stopping these projects," Moagi said.
The minister implored stakeholders in the energy industry through the utility company BPC to start conversation with regional power up takers with the Southern Africa Power Pool. He also encouraged BPC to reinforce the national grid network ahead of the anticipated power supply on 2026. Moagi indicated that the country's power supply demand at peak is still below 700MW, and all the project under the IRP will produce over 1000MW.
Moagi’s wrath comes after President Mokgweetsi Masisi has implored foreign independent power producers (IPPs) to comply with gazetted government instrument to cede 40 percent shareholding to locals.
Masisi said the instrument is a citizen empowerment scheme expected to distribute wealth amongst Batswana, as the country seeks to transition from a middle income economy to a high income economy.
Speaking at the launch of the second 100MW utility scale grid connected solar photovoltaic project, power purchase agreement in Jwaneng recently, Masisi beseeched for compliance with the set citizen shareholding for IPPs.
“Any breach will enjoy the wrath of my power, please make sure you comply,” Masisi said.
The President’s warning comes as the country’s energy Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) has plans to increase use of renewable energy through power purchase agreements with independent producers.
Apart from attracting foreign IPPs, the country intends to push citizen economic empowerment through ceding of 40 percent shareholding to citizens.
In addition, the Masisi said government will continue to revise and change the energy IRP to achieve the target of consuming 50 percent renewable energy by 2036.
The latest 100MW solar photovoltaic project has been awarded to a consortium of Botswana and Chinese companies under an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract, with an operation and maintenance contract of 25 years.
Masisi further revealed that the country aims to attain 1076 MW of renewable energy production by 2036 from solar plant projects.
“This is (transition to renewable energy) essentially a prerequisite to be attained, if we are to industrialize Botswana,” Masisi said. Masisi emphasised that the energy transition is imperative for the mitigation of climate change, de-carbonization of the country’s mining industry and to support national ambitions to export energy.