Botala Energy , a BSE listed Ausie energy development company has clinched a 4MW Solar Power Plant tender in its Serowe Energy Hub named Project Phuthi.
Botala announced recently that it has entered into a binding power purchase agreement (PPA) in respect of Project Phuthi with Botswana Power Corporation , the state owned power utility company.
Botala, as Project Leader and 49% owner, will construct and operate the power facility.
Other owners are Botswana-based:
β’ Ngwato Development Trust representing residents and traditional leadership.
β’ Base Agencies β Civilβs Partner.
β’ OCEF Engineering Botswana β Electrical engineering partner.
Demonstrating Botalaβs commitment to community and social welfare, 1% of revenue will be spent on social and
community programmes in Serowe.
The award of the tender is a significant milestone and is the next step in the development of a medium-scale solar pilot project announced on 23 October 2023.
Project Phuthi will be 4.2km from BPCβs 66/11kV substation. Electricity will be connected via a 11kV busbar into BPCβs
National Power Grid, with access to Botswana and the Southern African Power Pool.
Grid connection studies completed
with BPC confirmed the location is a suitable tie-in point for a 30MW power-station.
Project Phuthi will be an important precursor and additional to Botalaβs proposed 20MW gas/solar hybrid within the Serowe Energy Hub1 and the planned staged development of a 500MW solar and 200MW gas hybrid within Botalaβs Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park near the large village of Palapye.
Environmental approvals for both Energy Hubs are the subject of two Environmental Impact Assessments and expected
shortly.
The Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) partner is Kgalagadi
Resources Development Company (Pty) Ltd, trading as Solar Power Botswana.
Mobilisation for commercial construction is expected to commence around November 2024 and commissioning is scheduled for mid-2025.
Botalaβs CEO, Kris Martinick said award of the 4MW solar project marks an important step in Botala becoming a diversified energy company.
“Anchored on our substantial gas resource, we see this solar project as the first commercial pilot to develop capacity to implement our 24MW gas/solar hybrid in Serowe and our 700MW hybrid near Palapye. We look forward to working with our partners in finalising this important project.β he said .
