19 Dec 2016

Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Advocate Sadique Kebonang, says the feasibility study completed in 2013 for the solar plant in Jwaneng did not cover the mines in the north-west region of Botswana.

Answering a question in Parliament on Wednesday (December 14), Advocate Kebonang said the study was funded through a grant of US$1 million (about P10 million) from African Development Bank (AFDB) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the cost for conducting the study was P14.8 million.

Advocate Kebonang said the study was conducted by a consortium of companies comprising NIXUS Consulting as a lead associate, Ynfiniti Engineering Services (YES), CENER and Parsons Brinckerhoff adding that the first three were from Spain while the last one was from the United Kingdom.

In addition, the minister said that the study in question was conducted for 100 Mega Watts (MW) Concentrating Solar Thermal Power Plant (CSTP) and the study concluded that in order to develop the power plant, a capital investment of approximately P6 billion was needed and a tariff of about P2 per kWh was envisaged.

He said due to the high tariff levels, the recommendations of the study were not implemented, however, the ministry had taken a decision to develop a 100 MW solar photovoltaic power plant with the hope that the tariff levels would be affordable and sustainable.

Minister Kebonang noted that the study was meant to kick start the realisation of this pillar by increasing contribution of renewable energy to the mix and in this regard, the ministry demonstrates its commitment to protecting the environment.

MP for Jwaneng-Mabutsane, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile had asked the minister if he was aware of the bankable feasibility study completed in 2013 for a solar plant in Jwaneng and mines in the North-West Region on Botswana.

The legislator also wanted to know the cost of conducting the study.

In addition, MP Ntlhaile also wanted to know which organisation or company was contracted to conduct the study, if there were any plans to implement the recommendations from the study and what had been the impact of the study on the Energy Policy. ENDS