GABORONE, June 17 – Botswana is preparing to begin construction of its first utility-scale solar power plant after developers secured $100 million in financing for the landmark Tati Solar Project, Bloomberg News reported.
The financing package clears the way for the development of the 100-megawatt solar facility, which is expected to strengthen Botswana’s renewable energy capacity and position the country as a potential regional electricity exporter.
The project’s financial arrangements were completed with Rand Merchant Bank, a subsidiary of FirstRand Group, serving as lead arranger.
The Tati Solar Project is being developed by Shumba Energy through its renewable energy subsidiary, Etavi Renewables.
Once operational, the facility will supply electricity into the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), enabling power trading across multiple countries in Southern Africa.
Developers expect the plant to begin commercial operations by 2027.
The project comes at a time when electricity demand is rising across Southern Africa, driven by population growth, industrial development and increasing energy requirements across the region.
Many countries in the region continue to face power shortages and grid reliability challenges, creating opportunities for new renewable energy projects to supply both domestic and regional markets.
Botswana has historically relied heavily on coal-fired generation and imported electricity to meet domestic demand.
The development of utility-scale solar projects forms part of broader efforts to diversify the country’s energy mix, improve energy security and reduce dependence on imported power.
Industry observers view the Tati Solar Project as a significant milestone in Botswana’s energy transition strategy and an important step toward unlocking the country’s renewable energy potential.
The project also reflects growing investor interest in Africa’s renewable energy sector as governments across the continent seek to expand clean energy generation while addressing persistent electricity deficits.
By connecting to the Southern African Power Pool, the facility is expected to benefit from regional demand for electricity and support cross-border energy trade, creating new revenue opportunities while strengthening regional energy integration.
As Southern Africa continues to invest in renewable energy infrastructure, projects such as Tati Solar are expected to play an increasingly important role in improving electricity access, enhancing grid resilience and supporting long-term economic development.
