The city of Maun in the Republic of Botswana today hosted the groundbreaking ceremony for a 500 MW photovoltaic solar power plant project, integrated with battery energy storage systems of equivalent capacity.

This initiative falls under the investment cooperation framework between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Botswana.

The project gives effect to the outcomes of the recent meeting between His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and President Duma Gideon Boko of the Republic of Botswana, on April 13, at Al Barakah Palace.

It also demonstrates the commitment to the direct implementation of investment agreements signed between the two parties.

The groundbreaking ceremony, took place just three days after the agreements were signed in Muscat, reflecting rapid project delivery, and the strong resolve to activate the partnership between the two friendly nations.

The ceremony was attended by President Duma Gideon Boko of the Republic of Botswana; Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, President of Oman Investment Authority (OIA) and officials from both countries.

The Maun project is being carried out by O-Green, a subsidiary of OIA, in partnership with the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC). The project reflects O-Green’s strategic drive toward global expansion through the development of integrated renewable energy projects encompassing power generation, energy storage systems, and supporting infrastructure – reinforcing its position as an international developer in the clean energy sector.

The project is the first initiative to be put into operation as part of Oman-Botswana cooperation in the energy sector, targeting the development of projects with a total capacity of up to 3,000 MW. This milestone marks the shift in cooperation from the planning phase to implementation.

Mustafa bin Mohammed Al Hinai, CEO of O-Green, said that the groundbreaking ceremony embodies the company’s dedication to executing projects to the highest standards, consistent with the agreements signed with partners in the Republic of Botswana. He noted that the project will be rolled out in carefully planned phases to support the energy grid.

He added that the project serves as the foundation of an integrated energy platform that will contribute to Botswana’s aspirations to become a regional energy trading hub and open up new prospects for sustainable economic growth, harnessing renewable energy solutions and round-the-clock storage systems.

Upon completion, the plant is expected to more than double Botswana’s current power generation capacity. The incorporation of battery storage technologies will bolster the reliability of the national grid and support peak load management, ensuring clean and sustainable energy supplies.

The agreements signed between the Oman and Botswana in Muscat covered several sectors, including mineral exploration, the development and operation of oil product storage facilities, in addition to renewable energy. They also include a memorandum between OQ Group and Botswana Oil Limited to assess cooperation opportunities in fuel security and infrastructure development; an agreement between O-Green and the Botswana Power Corporation to develop the solar power plant project; and a cooperation agreement between Oman Mining Development Company and Botswana’s Exploration Investment Company in the field of mining exploration.