Africa-Press – Botswana. Debswana Mining Company and Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) have signed Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half by 2030. The two entities formalised their agreement on Wednesday in Gaborone.
The new collaboration will see Debswana, a major diamond mining company, purchase green energy from BPC to power its operations. Currently, Debswana requires approximately 410 megawatts of renewable energy to sustain its mining activities. Transitioning to cleaner energy sources is expected to lower the company’s reliance on fossil fuels, which are major contributors to greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide emissions polluting the atmosphere. Debswana’s Managing Director, Mr Andrew Motsomi highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership.
“The MoA on renewable electricity supply is part of a broader aim to decarbonise our operations and ensure that our natural diamonds are extracted using sustainable, green energy sources,” he said, adding that Debswana supported global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases as outlined in the Paris Agreement, and committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
He emphasised that Debswana’s decarbonisation strategy was embedded in its Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) framework, called Building Forever, which underscored the company’s dedication to sustainability and protecting the natural environment. The strategy includes improving energy efficiency, exploring alternative green fuels, utilising renewable electricity, and investigating technological methods for carbon capture. A key component of this pathway is effective partnership building.
“Our partnership with BPC through the MoU and now this MoA lays a strong foundation for our energy transition efforts. This will not only reduce our environmental footprint but also enhance the story of our diamonds, adding value to our products and resonating positively with environmentally conscious consumers,” Mr Motsumi said.
BPC CEO, Mr David Kgoboko also expressed optimism about the partnership’s impact.
“The MoA with Debswana marks an important milestone in Botswana’s energy transition journey. It sets a clear path for the sale of renewable energy certificates and supports Debswana’s goal of decarbonizing its operations,” he said.
He further highlighted BPC’s ongoing renewable energy projects, including an additional 1.3GW of planned capacity and the successful commissioning of the Phase 1 of the Mmadinare Solar Project (50MW), which was now operational. He said Phase 2 of the project was expected to be completed by the end of the year. Other upcoming projects in Letlhakane, Maun, and Isang will add further renewable capacity, expanding BPC’s renewable footprint to approximately 1.5GW.
“Debswana’s leadership in procuring renewable energy certificates exemplifies Botswana’s overarching goal of creating a sustainable, climate-conscious economy,” Mr Kgoboko said.
This partnership, he said not only benefited the environment but also positioned Botswana as a competitive player in the global green economy. Further, he said the collaboration was seen as a crucial step toward fostering sustainable development in Botswana, while also demonstrating the country’s commitment to achieving a 50/50 split between renewable and non-renewable energy sources by 2030. Both companies expressed their enthusiasm for future collaborations aimed at advancing Botswana’s renewable energy landscape.
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