23 Mar 2023

Friendly Logistics Holding Company director, Mr Onkemetse Nkape has requested the North West District Council (NWDC) to partner with his company for a solar energy project.

Presenting the project management plan to the district leadership recently, Mr Nkape said the project would provide clean and sustainable energy as well as bring positive change to the community.

He revealed that the project, earmarked for an area between Xana and Makalamabedi gate in the Ngamiland district, required a minimum of P27 million, hence his canvassing for support to set it up.

Revealing that feasibility consultations had been undertaken, Mr Nkape said partnering with the NWDC would help in the use of natural environment in a sustainable manner, as well as harness the solar resource and convert it into useful energy.

He said the project would initially produce an estimated 40MW, with expansion to 100MW in 36 months.

He stressed that the production process would not harm the environment, but rather use an already existing natural resource and diversify ways of energy production in the country to align it to the international power production regulations.

He said he believed that the project would help meet the growing demand for electricity in Botswana, especially in far-flung areas.

Mr Nkape noted that the project would also create a world class research centre for students pursuing electrical engineering, as well as create employment opportunities for them.

He said some institutions had shown interest in partnering with his company as they appreciated the importance of the project, citing the University of Cape Town, as one such.  Ends