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Botswana and Namibia have signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) to develop a 5,000 MWp mega solar project.
- These agreements will initiate pre-feasibility studies for the project.
- The project has received support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Bird), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Power Africa.
The governments of Botswana and Namibia have signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) to develop a 5,000 MWp mega solar project on their boundaries. The project has received support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Bird), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Power Africa – an initiative of the U.S. government.
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Both nations had signed an earlier agreement, and these agreements will enable the commencement of pre-feasibility studies for the mega solar project. The initial cost estimates for the pre-feasibility studies have been put at 20 million Botswana Pulas ($1.84 million) according to Botswana’s Deputy Permanent Secretary for Mineral Resources, Energy Security and Green Technology, Nchena Mothebe.
Mothebe noted that the financial partners are expected to support the financing for the studies, which will provide the final estimates of the contribution to the funding of these studies, which will help estimate the overall cost of the mega-project. The project will boost the grid capacity of Namibia and Botswana. Part of the energy generated from the project will be sold to other countries in the region via the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).