Tati Solar Power Station

Tati Solar Power Station (TSPS), is a planned solar power station in Botswana. The power station is under development by a consortium that comprises two independent power producers (IPPs), one based in Botswana, and the other based in the United Kingdom. Investors in the solar project come from South Africa, United Kingdom and The Netherlands. When completed, this renewable energy infrastructure project is expected to become the first privately owned, large-scale grid-ready, solar power plant in the country.[1][2][3]

Tati Solar Power Station
Tati Solar Power Station
Tati Solar Power Station
Tati Solar Power Station
Tati Solar Power Station (Botswana)
Map
CountryBotswana
LocationTati, Francistown
Coordinates21°31′12″S 27°48′16″E / 21.52000°S 27.80444°E / -21.52000; 27.80444
StatusProposed
Construction began2024 Expected
Commission date2025 Expected
Construction costUS$100 million
Owner(s)Tati Solar Company
Solar farm
TypeFlat-panel PV
Power generation
Nameplate capacity105 MW

Location edit

The power station would be located on 300 hectares (1.2 sq mi), in Tati, outside the city of Francistown, the country's second-largest city.[4] Francistown is located about 433 kilometres (269 mi), north-east of the city of Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.[5]

Overview edit

The power station has a planned capacity of 100 megawatts. It will be developed in phases. The first phase will have capacity of 50 megawatts. As of February 2021, the developers had received an environmental certificate of compliance from the relevant local authorities.[4] In July 2021, the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) also approved the project, and issued a generation license.[2]

Developers edit

The power station is under development by a consortium comprising Shumba Energy Limited from Botswana and Solarcentury Africa, based in the United Kingdom.[2][3]

Shumba Energy Limited

Shumba Energy Limited is a Botswana-based "mineral exploration company, with a portfolio of exploration and mining coal projects". Its stock of shares is listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange and co-listed on the Mauritius Stock Exchange.[6]

Solarcentury Africa

Solarcentury Africa is a subsidiary of BB Energy, an independent energy trading company, based in the United Kingdom. It primarily deals in "gasoil, gasoline, bitumen and fuel oil". As of August 2021, Solarcentury maintains a portfolio of 2.1 gigawatts of installed generation capacity, sold to mining operations, commercial and industrial clients in Africa.[2][7]

The owner/developers of this power station are expected to create a special purpose vehicle company to own and operate the solar farm. For descriptive purposes, we shall call that SPV Tati Solar Company. The table below illustrates the shareholding in Tati Solar Company.[2][3]

Shareholding in Tati Solar Company
Rank Shareholder Domicile Description Notes
1 Shumba Energy Botswana Independent Power Producer [2][3]
2 Solarcentury Africa United Kingdom Independent Solar Power Producer

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Jean Marie Takouleu (5 August 2021). "Botswana: Solarcentury and Shumba to co-develop Tati solar project (105 MWp)". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f African Tenderpreneur (5 August 2021). "Botswana: Solarcentury and Shumba to co-develop Tati solar project (105 MWp)". African Tenderpreneur. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Reuters (5 July 2021). "Botswana issues licence for first large scale solar power plant". Reuters. Retrieved 11 August 2021. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ a b Pauline Dikuelo (16 February 2021). "Shumba Energy proceeds with Tati Solar project". Mmegi. Gaborone, Botswana. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  5. ^ Google (11 August 2021). "Road Distance Between Gaborone, Botswana And Francistown, Botswana With Interactive Map" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  6. ^ African Markets (10 August 2021). "About Shumba Energy Limited". African-Markets.com. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  7. ^ Frank (16 April 2021). "Oil and gas trader B.B. Energy acquires Solarcentury Africa". Africa Inc Magazine. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 11 August 2021.

External links edit