Gaborone – At its Leaders’ Summit on Climate concluded April 22, the Biden-Harris administration announced the signing of a historic memorandum of intent (MOI) to create a 2 to 5gigawatt Mega Solar project in Botswana and Namibia. The United States Government is collaborating with the Government of the Republic of Botswana, the Government of the Republic of Namibia, the African Development Bank, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Finance Corporation to make Mega Solar a reality.
This revolutionary Mega Solar project has the potential to bring renewable solar power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in Botswana in the next two decades. The Mega Solar project could transform Botswana from a net importer and consumer of unreliable coal power, to a significant producer and exporter of renewable solar power, while also reducing Botswana’s carbon footprint.
“We are thrilled to see this Mega Solar signing ceremony take place. It is an important step towards our collective dream of a scalable cross-border solar project, a concept first discussed in April 2019,” U.S. Ambassador Craig Cloud said. “We are excited to be working with Botswana and Namibia to expand renewable energy production and enhance energy security, while addressing climate concerns.”
We must all do more to bend the curve on global emissions and limit the rise of global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius – the cost of inaction for our health, our economies, and future generations is too high. The next decade will be decisive, and the steps countries take this year to set the world up for success will make all the difference. The Mega Solar project marks an important step in Botswana’s efforts to fight climate change. To protect livelihoods around the world and mitigate global warming, we must all get on the right path now. The countries that take decisive action now to create the industries of the future, will be the ones that reap the economic benefits of the clean energy revolution. Botswana has taken a bold step towards energy and climate security for its people.
For additional information, please contact the U.S. Embassy Press Office at 373-2419 or PASGaborone@state.gov.
