08 Jul 2013

Some people eke out a living by supplying solar energy, thanks to the frequent power cuts.

Bebezip Property Limited, a Gaborone-based company owned by youth, found a business opportunity out of free solar to promote renewable solar energy. The company, which has been in existence since 2011, sells light devices that tap solar energy.

Mr Ntesang Kudumedi said in an interview at the recent Ghanzi show said upon realising an abundance of solar energy that this country had, they decided to set up a business of selling solar lamps. The lamps come in two types of solar lantern and solar muscle. 

The solar muscle is a white squared piece of lamp, which only provides lighting and can go up to 10 hours. The solar lantern lamp is a moveable lamp which has three uses; radio, lights as well as charge mobile phones. He explained further that the lantern lamp can take up to eight hours if used only on lights, adding that if used for all purposes of charging and radio it can be sustainable for four hours.

Mr Kudumedi said both lamps have the solar panel on top, which allows for recharging using the sun while the lantern can also be charged by electricity. Besides being beneficial to those affected by frequent power cuts, Mr  Kudumedi noted that the lamps are also of importance to farmers as well as people staying at settlements where electricity has not yet been connected.

According to Mr Kudumedi, the response from the public has been positive towards the projects and people have started to buy in.

The company is family funded and Mr Kudumedi said they hope to expand and be able to provide Batswana with solar energy products just like big companies such as Solar Hart. ENDS