08 Jun 2021

Solar energy if harnessed strategically could help Botswana reduce its dependence on energy imports and also become the country’s most valuable export products.

The British High Commissioner to Botswana and United Kingdom (UK) representative to Southern African Development Community, Ms Sian Price said this at the World Environmental Day Commemoration organised by Standard Chartered Bank in Lobatse, where the bank also launched its innovative solar powered Express Banking Centre.

“Solar energy is now one of the cheapest sources of new build energy generation for at least two-thirds of the world’s population. The potential is huge in countries like Botswana that are so abundantly blessed with this natural resource,” said Ms Price.

She indicated that a recent World Bank Report ranked Botswana within the top ten countries globally with abundant solar energy potential.

Ms Price noted that the solar powered ATM project was a living proof of that potential, adding that UK is fully committed to helping other nations to follow the path to urgent action to slow climate change and protect the future of the planet.

“The innovation we are seeing today, Botswana’s first solar powered ATM, is a great example of inspiring climate action,” she said.Ms Price acknowledged that Standard Chartered bank was setting a wonderful example to the private sector in Botswana, through working in partnership with a local company, Africa Sun Energy.

“We have supported Africa Sun Energy through our Energy Catalyst programme, which is aimed at developing cutting edge technology in the renewable energy sector,” she said.

“By using this innovative technology, Standard Chartered is not only making a smart investment for its future, but also contributing to Botswana’s Paris Agreement target to reduce CO2 emissions by 15 per cent by 2030. A positive example that I hope that many other businesses will follow,” she said.

Ms Price highlighted that it was gratifying to see Standard Chartered bank help Lobatse to continue in its role as a trailblazer, with the new development in banking services.

“Lobatse has a long tradition of being at the forefront of new developments in Botswana. Indeed Botswana’s first tarmacked road was laid here,” she said.

She noted that the environmental reasons for switching to cleaner energy had long been clear. But, the economic benefits in adopting renewable energy were also indisputable as the cost of renewable energy had fallen drastically over the past decade.

Later this year, the UK will be hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 26, which will also be an opportunity for the world to come together and commit to urgent action to slow climate change and protect the future of our planet, she said.

“The UK, as a nation, is fully committed to leading by example. Guided by science, we will invest in a green recovery, which creates sustainable jobs and addresses the urgent and linked challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and public health,” she said.

Ms Price said UK was fully committed to joining forces with international partners, governments, civil society, business and people all over the world to inspire climate action.

While relaying the technical details about the project, she noted that the solar panels would generate over eleven thousand kilowatt hours per year, which would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.8 tonnes a year and enable the project to pay for itself in less than three years.

For his part, the Standard Chartered Bank, chief executive officer, Mr Mpho Masupe said as the bank they have challenged themselves to leverage innovation and technology and also transform the way they do business.

“This translates into our products and services to our clients and thus The Express Banking Centre (EBC) as a new distribution model, which offers our clients the freedom to transact as and when they please,” he said.

The EBC offers access to ipads, where clients can access the digital app, a phone line with direct access to our 24-hour Client Care Centre as well as a cash deposit machine, said Mr Masupe.

During banking hours, he added, clients could also be assisted by one of the staff members.

“We want clients to take ownership of their banking and have these in place to assist our clients as we transition our distribution model,” he said.

He said they had offered Lobatse one of the first four Express Banking Centres in the whole country, alongside Maun, Jwaneng and Gaborone.

“This Express Banking Centre is powered by 16 tier 1 solar modules that can generate enough energy to power two (2) average size houses.

This setup will generate approximately 11,500 Kilo Watt hours of energy per year. All of that from just this relatively small setup,” he said. Ends