Australia's Botala secures environmental okay for Botswana energy hub

Australia’s Botala Energy has received government environmental approval to proceed with the commercial development of its Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park in Botswana, the company announced on August 20.

Future developments will need to secure relevant licences and permits from local authorities. The necessary building and planning applications for the PV manufacturing plant have been submitted, with submissions for the solar farm to follow shortly. Both projects are integral parts of the Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park.

Kris Martinick, CEO of Botala, stated, “Coupled with the previously announced environmental approvals to develop our Serowe gasfield, complete with a gas pipeline to Leupane, we are well positioned to achieve our energy objectives on schedule and in a sustainable and socially responsible manner.”

This approval allows Botala and its solar farm partner AAAS Energy to advance the planned 250MW solar project at the Leupane Energy Hub. Botala’s primary focus remains the development of its wholly-owned Serowe coalbed methane gas project, with a secondary focus on related renewable energy opportunities, particularly solar. The development of the Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park, located adjacent to Palapye in Botswana, aligns with this strategy.

The company believes that the Leupane Energy Hub and Industrial Park is set to become a “cornerstone” for renewable and gas-fired power generation in the region. Botala has completed initial plans to develop 700MW of hybrid gas and solar power generation capacity on the site. Grid connection studies, conducted in collaboration with the Botswana Power Corporation, confirm that the site has sufficient capacity for 700MW.

Botala is also progressing with the development of a PV panel manufacturing plant in partnership with Solar Finland. The recently granted environmental approvals satisfy a key requirement in Botala’s agreements with AAAS and Solar Finland.