As Maun is poised to become the country’s energy powerhouse, the Government is readying local people to reap the benefits expected from investments in the renewable energy sector.
The Ministry of Minerals and Energy, in collaboration with the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) and the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA), has undertaken a week-long Rooftop Solar Programme awareness campaign and training drive from 21 to 26 September 2026 in Maun.
The campaign sought to increase awareness and uptake of the Rooftop Solar (RTS) Programme, which enables consumers to generate their own solar power and sell surplus electricity to the BPC. Through the programme, customers will generate clean electricity using grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and sell any excess power back to the grid.
The drive aimed to improve public understanding of application, connection, and compliance requirements, reduce lapsed awards, promote safe and compliant installations, guide new applicants through the correct application process, and strengthen engagement between the public and the Government.
Speaking during the launch of the programme at Maun Technical College on Monday, the Assistant Director in the Department of Energy, Tebogo Selaelo, stated that they purposely held the programme in Maun because the area has been positioned as Botswana’s solar hub.
She highlighted the development of a landmark 500MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and a 500MWh battery energy storage system in Maun. According to President Duma Boko, the facility will be the largest grid-scale solar project in Botswana and the second-largest energy storage project in Africa.
Selaelo noted that the development will create opportunities for locals in construction, logistics, accommodation, supplies, operations, and maintenance. She said the training, held from 21 to 26 September 2026, is aimed at ensuring that local youth are positioned to take advantage of these opportunities.
“We have brought this training to Maun because we want Maun to be ready. When the opportunity arrives, the youth of this region must be in a position to seize it,” she said.
Rather than training installers directly, the Rooftop Solar Programme focuses on training instructors who can pass these skills on to many more artisans. The programme has already trained 39 senior instructors and inspectors from technical colleges, with 20 more currently undergoing training in Maun.
“If you train one installer, you create one skilled person. If you train one instructor, you create a source of skills that will produce hundreds of competent artisans every year, for years to come,” Selaelo said.
The initiative is being implemented under the ASPIRE Programme, a four-year partnership between Botswana and the European Union running until 2030. The programme seeks to accelerate the country’s transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy sector through technical assistance.
North West Assistant District Commissioner, Omphile Mogorosi, said the programme will have a profound impact on the community, stressing that empowering local professionals will propel regional development. She urged the participants to take advantage of the opportunity to network within key sector institutions, share knowledge, and hone their technical skills as Maun builds its green future.
The Rooftop Solar (RTS) Programme featured a two-day workshop at the Maun Technical College and awareness campaigns in parts of Maun before heading to Khwai village.
