| Solar power project in progress |
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| Wednesday,June 18,2008 Posted: 23:18 BJT(18 GMT) |
| From:MOT Article type:Reproduced |
The P34 million rural electrification project known as RE Botswana is still in progress says Department of Energy’s acting director, Mr Syril Matshameko. Speaking in an interview, Mr Matshameko said the pilot project on rechargeable lanterns, batteries and chargers was implemented at Lorolwana in the Southern District in October last year. The pilot project consists of a solar Photovoltaic (PV) station on which the residents recharged their solar lanterns.Mr Matshameko said the project would commence delivery of services to rural communities in July. If the project became successful, he said similar solar stations would be installed in other villages that might require the same services as Lorolwana.The government, in partnership with the UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), signed an agreement in October 2005 for the implementation of the Renewable Energy-based Rural Electrification Programme called “RE Botswana.”In addition, he said, the government was providing 60 per cent of the total fund.The project, implemented by Botswana Power Corporation, (BPC) is aimed at reducing the country’s emissions by promoting renewable and low green house gas (GHG) technologies as a substitute for fossil fuel used in rural areas.He added that the project also encouraged the development of the private sector industry in the provision of renewable energy. Mr Matshameko further said another pilot project was undertaken in November 2007 to evaluate efficient wood stoves, solar cookers and hot bags in Mmankgodi, Dikwididi and Medie villages.He said its primary objective was to identify and assess the end-user on energy efficient cooking and heat retention devices (hot bags) so as to guide the design packages on offer in the RE Botswana Programme.Initially, he said 88 selected villages, which were not connected to the grid were selected for implementation. However, the project had since been reverted to a different plan. The programme was also targeting households, enterprises and government facilities in rural areas that are unable to connect to the grid.He also said the range of products provided by the project had been made in a way that they suit most people’s pockets. |
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