- Maun 500MW solar plant positions Botswana as regional energy hub
- to reduce power imports and supports future net export ambitions
- 500MWh battery enables stored solar power for peak demand use
- Project to advance the 2030 renewables target
President Duma Boko has declared that Botswana is poised to become a regional energy powerhouse, anchored by the development of a landmark 500MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and a 500MWh battery energy storage system.
Once operational, the Maun-based facility will be the largest grid-scale solar project in Botswana and the second-largest energy storage project in Africa. Speaking during the project’s groundbreaking ceremony in Mawana-Maun yesterday—just hours after his return from a visit to Oman, President Boko noted that the initiative places Botswana among the continent’s leaders in energy storage development.
The project is expected to inject 500MW of clean, reliable power into the national grid, facilitating Botswana’s transition from a heavy reliance on imports to becoming a competitive electricity exporter. Historically, the nation has depended on foreign power to meet peak demand, particularly during high-tariff evening and early-morning periods.
“Botswana is uniquely positioned to lead in the energy space,” President Boko stated. “With over 3,200 hours of sunshine annually and some of the highest solar irradiation levels in the world, our country is a natural hub for solar energy development.”
The President emphasised that his administration’s vision for a “New Botswana” includes secure, sustainable, and affordable power for all. This involves a decisive shift from a fossil-fuel-based sector to a diversified energy mix.
“This transition must not leave Batswana behind,” Boko added. “Batswana must participate meaningfully as investors, entrepreneurs, and owners. We are building an energy economy that is inclusive, distributes opportunity, and builds local capacity.”
Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) CEO David Kgoboko echoed these sentiments, describing the Maun project as a “strategic turning point.”
The facility will be developed under an Independent Power Producer (IPP) model by Okavango Solar, a subsidiary of Naka Sustainable Energy under a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with BPC. Commissioning is slated for the first quarter of 2029.
Kgoboko noted that the project will strengthen national energy security and reduce import dependency, lower generation costs by displacing expensive purchased power and enhance regional trade within the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
A defining feature is the large-scale battery storage system—the first of its kind in Botswana. The system will store solar energy during the day and release it during peak demand windows (6:00 PM to 10:00 PM and 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM).
The project includes the construction of a 400kV transmission line linking the plant to the Mowana substation, reinforcing Botswana’s high-voltage network and enabling smoother cross-border electricity flows.
This development aligns with Botswana’s Integrated Resource Plan, which targets 1.3GW of green energy by 2030. During the ceremony, BPC and Oman’s O-Green officially signed the PPA for the project’s development, financing, and maintenance.
This milestone follows President Boko’s recent engagements with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, which resulted in separate agreements covering a 50MW solar project, petroleum storage, and mineral exploration.
