STORY: Botswana to launch major solar photovoltaic power project with Chinese investment
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 12, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 14, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:08
LOCATION: Gaborone
CATEGORY: Economy

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the power purchase agreement signing ceremony
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MOKGWEETSI MASISI, Botswanan President
3. various of the Jwaneng 100 MW solar PV power station
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): BAI YINZHAN, President of China Harbour Engineering Company
5. various of the power purchase agreement signing ceremony

STORYLINE:

Botswana Power Corporation on Monday signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Sinotswana Green Energy, a consortium of Chinese and Botswana companies, to officially launch the southern African country's first 100 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power station project.

The deal was structured into an engineering, procurement, and construction contract, with operation and maintenance of the Jwaneng 100 MW solar PV power station for 25 years, within the country's Integrated Resource Plan expected to spur its renewable energy use to 50 percent by 2036.

Sinotswana Green Energy was jointly established by China Habor Engineering Company, China International Water & Electric Corporation, and New Energy Company Proprietary Limited, a local company, with China Habor Engineering Company controlling the stake.

Addressing delegates at the PPA signing ceremony Monday in the mining town of Jwaneng, Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi said the signing is a key milestone in the energy transition and also a political promise they made to Batswana in 2019.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MOKGWEETSI MASISI, Botswanan President
"We are celebrating a key milestone of our transition from fossil-based energy supply to a diversified energy mix comprising both renewable and non-renewable energy sources. I look forward to the successful commissioning of the joining Meg 100 megawatt solar PV project by the end of 2025."

"The initiative is in line with Botswana's energy policy goal of providing an affordable, reliable and adequate supply of energy for sustainable development, as well as improving access to and efficient use of energy resources," Masisi said, emphasizing that the energy transition is imperative for the mitigation of climate change, decarbonization of the country's mining industry and to support national ambitions to export energy.

China is willing to share its green energy development experience with Botswana and encourage more Chinese companies to invest in new energy industries, said Lan Yuqiang, commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Botswana.

Bai Yinzhan, President of China Harbour Engineering Company said the project will bring benefits in many ways.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): BAI YINZHAN, President of China Harbour Engineering Company
"By investing in this project, we can effectively meet the electricity demand brought by the rapid development of Botswana's economy, and it also makes a good demonstration for subsequent investment, construction and operation of new energy projects in Botswana."

The project is expected to start power generation at the end of 2025.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaborone.
(XHTV)