The UK supports Botswana initiative for greener energy
Botswana receives support from the UK to improve its investment environment for clean energy.
The UK supports Botswana initiative for greener energy
Last month, the British High Commission organised a press briefing on the investment climate for renewable energy in Botswana. Mr. Keegan Kruger, clean energy investment expert from Bloomberg consultancy services presented the findings of the world 2014 Climatescope study to journalists. The Climatescope initiative is co-sponsored by the UK. For Botswana, Climatescope offers benchmarking opportunities with other developing countries that have successfully creative a conducive environment for clean energy investment. According to the study findings, Botswana is currently ranked 48 out of 55 assessed countries in Sub Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America in terms of its clean energy investment framework. The UK believes that Botswana has a huge potential for developing its abundant renewable energy resources, especially with solar energy. In this context, the Government of Botswana’s current work to prepare a renewable energy strategy is important. A clear framework for investment in clean energy will help Botswana’s goal to diversify its energy mix as has happened in South Africa, Rwanda or Malawi in the past couple of years. Deputy British High Commissioner, Oliver Richards, said “the UK is committed to support Botswana in realising the potential of renewable energy for job creation, mitigation of climate change effects and energy self-reliance.” It is expected that at least £100 billion (around BWP 1.4 billion) will be invested in this sector in the UK by 2020. Mr Richards said that “increasingly, and despite being famed for our inclement weather, solar panels are springing up on rooftops across the UK. British solar energy capacity now generates 750MW across the country, as well as providing heating and hot water for many homes.” This initiative is part of a series of activities on Renewable Energy run by the British High Commission in Gaborone such as a workshop with Government officials and private sector representatives jointly organised with Business Sweden in March 2014 and the co-sponsoring of a Botswana government regional conference on renewable energy in August 2014.