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As usual Smith, you demonstrate zero knowledge of power generation and role of BPC in Botswana. None.
The transmission network is owned, or comes under the direct control of BPC. An IPP will need consent from BPC as to where they evacuate power and inject into the grid. That gets done at a variety of sub-stations dotted across Botswana, and from there BPC will distribute electricity to towns, villages, hamlets and huts. Nobody will sell to a village or smaller directly - unless BPC first amendment their charter. And there is no sign of that currently.
You may/ may not know of the 400kV North West transmission line recent extension. This passes close to Tlou - it is much closer to Lesedi than Serowe but still Tlou will need to evacuate to Serowe for grid injection there.
UNLESS Ministry and BPC allow Tlou to build a grid connection point somewhere closer to home base. And who pays for that …..
So until Tlou mgmt start adding this to their hymn sheet, we can sit back in blissful frustration that really the powers that be in Botswana are totally determined to make life as difficult for CBM industry.
That has been obvious for 4 or more years now - to pretty much everyone but you know who …..
When are you ever going to admit what you really know about Tlou !
Distribution of Solar power to Serowe 100Km away provides flexibility in selling our power to either SAPP or BPC - typical TG, keeping our options open.
And that solution works for CBM or Solar!
Considering the points raised in mrmoagi’s , if we go for an immediate Solar power supply, why should we supply a Botswana domestic supply via Serowe?
If there are towns in the Central District nr Lesedi without power, and are on BOC’s “todo” list , would it not make sense for Tlou (or others) to build a substation for each town and have BPC distribute the power around the town?
Why have power sent up to Serowe only to send it back towards where it came from? I say BPC but a town may set up its own distributor maybe. Potential danger of not getting paid there - but I suppose ww could turn their supply off?
I haven’t thought this through - the Serowe method is ready-made to make use of the power. The lead time for the poles and wires is probably less than the lead time to power up towns from scratch?
Time for Woman’s truatlon.
I imagine some IPPs will locate their solar farm within 10km of a suitable grid connection. Others 50kms away, others 100km and even more.
Will the Govt pay the cost of all transmission lines or must the IPPs pay upfront? How then does an IPP recover that cost? What if Govt decrees they will pay one flat rate for solar (or gas) power - would an IPP selling a relatively small MW quantum delivered over a relatively longer distance be in a better or worse position of relative strength? Would it be better to build a transmission line with minimal power evacuation capability v one that is more expensive but which, over time, can be scaled up to accept a higher pay load?
All valid financial questions in my opinion. No doubt others will think just sticking a battery lead into the grid proves the concept and will be good enough to sell the company. After all, major energy corporations have big balance sheets and helping out struggling exploration cum developers is what they are famous for. Not !!
I have been saying for years that a PPA was impossible until a realistic price is decided and that the cost of production is known.
I thought Moron may have been saying just that!
Instead he prefers to talk about Cook,Raleigh, Magellan, etc
It is a big advance to have the price contracted out as “tba” from a more than careful govt.
Ironically there has to be a token of faith in the dealings between BPC and TLOU in a covid-ridden world. Moagi and Gilby fit that bill for me.
I wonder what price is in the 2MW PPA that took me by surprise? Dates and prices are going to be best guesses until Botswana opens its doors for business. Solar power looks the least complicated to estimate dates and costs. I guess the sun is inflation-proof?
I wonder if they have to build a 100km line to evacuate their power….. And the list of 12 might be an interesting detail.
Immediate confirmation that Botswana is looking to Independent Power Producers to fill the country's energy gap. Power projects are being prioritised to help spur the post-COVID recovery.
Today was the turn of solar generators.
CBM is next up......?? Reckon so.
Describing the planned plants as “Botswana’s first two renewable energy IPP [independent power producer] projects,” Sturdee said the national power company had agreed to purchase the electricity to be generated for 25 years, without specifying an agreed figure for each kilowatt-hour sold.
David Kgoboko, chief executive of the national utility which will be the power offtaker, said the two plants would be the first of a planned dozen which will bring a total 35 MW of solar generation capacity to the Botswana grid by the end of next year.
Kgoboko, quoted in the Sturdee press release, said: “The signing of the two PPAs [power purchase agreements] marks a major milestone for the adoption of renewable energy in Botswana’s new energy mix and increases energy security for our country in an environmentally sustainable manner.”
The International Renewable Energy Agency estimated Botswana had just 6 MW of grid-connected solar capacity at the end of 2020.
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/07/26/botswana-utility-signs-nations-first-ppas-for-independent-solar-projects/