THE LONG-AWAITED construction of a 200 megawatts (MW) solar station in Botswana could soon become a reality after the national utility, the Botswana Power Corporation, moved the project from its scoping phase and pre-feasibility to feasibility study stage.

The feasibility study is expected to be completed in 12 months, leading to project capitalisation by the BPC and its funding partners, construction and eventual commissioning.

The multi-million-dollar project was initiated in 2006, and is expected to reduce the country’s heavy dependence on fossil fuel and costly diesel-fired power stations.

Results of a pre-feasibility study released in 2014 indicated that Botswana has good solar irradiation, capable of supporting a solar power station.

The study identified five locations as ideal sites for the construction of such a station –

Jwaneng, Selebi-Phikwe, Serowe, Letlhakeng and Maun.

The BPC in now seeking consultants to carry out the feasibility study, and funding has been sourced from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

“The scope of work will also include identification of project risks and coming up with appropriate mitigating measures as well as performing a detailed assessment of plant location and design from the pre-selected areas referred to in the PFS,” reads part of the BPC tender documents

Once completed, the solar power station will eclipse Morupule Power Station's current capacity, alleviating the prevailing power shortfall and diversifying the country's sources of power supply.

It is expected that the power station will be used to supply the country's booming mining sector.