RE: Africa Energy Futures - DLA Piper report, Botswana section25 Nov 2021 22:18
With particular focus on sustainability, and on reducing carbon emissions, how will the energy and natural resources landscape change over the next 5 to 10 years?
Botswana’s power system has been characterized by unreliable power supply, lack of investment, poor maintenance and high service costs. To meet its peak power demand, Botswana imports power from the Southern Africa Power Pool – mainly from South Africa – and when imports are not available, resorts to the use of costly backup diesel power plants.
The country is in the unique position of having abundant coal reserves and ideal solar radiation levels for the generation of power. The local energy landscape is dominated by coal powered electricity generation. However, with Botswana’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and the increasing aversion by lenders to fund coal projects, this presents an opportunity for the increased use of renewables in the energy mix.
The country’s Vision 2036 calls for a 50% renewable energy contribution to the energy mix by 2036. However, in the IRP, it was announced that renewable energy should account for at least 15% of the energy mix by 2030. Based on the IRP, it is unlikely that the 50% target in Vision 2036 will be met. However,
if the proposed 2 to 5 GW Mega Solar project in Botswana and Namibia becomes a reality, the target will be easily achieved.
Botswana aims at an overall emissions reduction of 15% by 2030, taking 2010 as the base year. The emissions reduction will be achieved domestically through strategies and measures which are relevant for the implementation of the target.
Sign In
Follow the stocks
