Mmadinare Solar Power Station
| Mmadinare Solar Power Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | Botswana |
| Location | Mmadinare, Central District |
| Coordinates | 21°51′43″S 27°41′55″E / 21.86194°S 27.69861°E |
| Status | Under construction |
| Construction began | 24 March 2024 |
| Commission date | December 2025 Expected (Phase I) |
| Construction cost | US$104 million |
| Owner(s) | Scatec |
| Operator(s) | Scatec |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | Flat-panel PV |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | Phase I: 60 MW Phase II: 60 MW Total: 120 MW |
The Mmadinare Solar Power Station is a 120 MW (160,000 hp) solar power station, under development in Botswana. The solar farm will be developed in two phases of 60 megawatts each. Scatec, the Norwegian independent power producer (IPP) owns the project and Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), the national electricity utility company is the power off-taker, under a 25-year power purchase agreement.[1][2]
Location[edit]
The power station is located in the town of Mmadinare, in the Central District of Botswana.[1][2] Mmadinare is located approximately 405 kilometres (252 mi) northeast of Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana.[3]
Developers[edit]
The power station is under development by Scatec, a Norwegian independent power producer (IPP). Scatec owns the power station 100 percent. Authorization for the first 60 megawatts of this renewable energy project was awarded in August 2022. Another 60 MW (the 2nd phase) was authorized in the third quarter of 2023.[4]
Scatec was also selected as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor and as the operations and maintenance (O&M) manager and service provider. The South African division of Scatec will handle the construction and operations of both phases of the power station.[4]
Costs and funding[edit]
The construction costs for the first phase are reported as US$104 million. It is expected US$68 million (65.4 percent), will be borrowed and the balance of US$36 million (34.6 percent) will be equity provided by Scatec. Rand Merchant Bank and the International Finance Corporation have agreed to provide loans for the first phase of this project.[1][2][4]
Construction timetable[edit]
Having achieved financial close in December 2023, it is expected that construction will begin in Q1 2024.[1][2][4] Construction began on 24 March 2024, witnessed by Mokgweetsi Masisi, the President of Botswana. Commercial commissioning of the first phase is anticipated in Q4 of 2025.[5]
Other considerations[edit]
As of October 2023, Botswana's generation capacity was reported as 993 MW of which 80 percent was derived from coal. The first 4 MW of grid-connected solar generation Units came online that month. Mmadinare Solar Power Station is the first large-scale solar power station to be developed in the country.[6]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Jean Marie Takouleu (19 December 2023). "Botswana: Scatec closes the financing for the 1st phase of the Mmadinare solar park". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d Petlong Dakhli (18 December 2023). "Scatec Unveils Solar Plant in Botswana". African Energy Council. Abuja, Nigeria. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Google (20 December 2023). "Road Distance Between Mmadinare, Botswana And Gaborone, Botswana" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d Meena Nair (18 December 2023). "Scatec To Soon Begin Construction Of 60 MW Plant". TaiyangNews. Dusseldorf, Germany. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (26 March 2024). "Botswana: work starts on the country's largest solar farm at Mmadinare". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Anita Anyango (23 December 2023). "Mmadinare solar park project in Botswana set for first phase". Pumps Africa. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
External links[edit]
- Scatec prepares for Botswana solar plant construction after reaching financial close As of 15 December 2023.