Solar Project Hits 85pc in Botswana as Cable Theft Leaves Areas in Darkness

The 4-megawatt Lobatse Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant in Botswana is 85 per cent complete, as the town records progress in several electricity projects.

Lobatse Mayor Mosimanegape Ganakgomo gave the figure at a full council meeting, where he outlined developments in the town’s clean energy programmes.

The solar plant, located on the outskirts of Lobatse, is being developed as a grid-connected facility. Its work covers design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning.

The project has also provided 28 employment opportunities for people working on the site, Ganakgomo said.

The solar plant is one of three electricity initiatives highlighted by the mayor, alongside the Rooftop Solar Programme and the Free Electricity Connection Programme.

Rooftop solar gains ground

Under the Rooftop Solar Programme, Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has commissioned 445 of the 1,077 applications received since the initiative began.

Ganakgomo said the programme was helping residents generate their own clean electricity.

“I am particularly proud to note that five of these newly commissioned applications are right here in Lobatse,” he said.

The figures show that rooftop solar adoption is also taking place within Lobatse as the town works on expanding access to cleaner energy.

The Free Electricity Connection Programme has recorded another set of completed connections.

Of the 294 applications received from Lobatse residents, 221 have been connected to the electricity grid. The other applications are at different stages of implementation.

Ganakgomo said the three programmes were helping the town embrace green energy through public electricity projects and household solar generation.

The 4MW plant will add another source of electricity to the town’s grid once construction is completed and the facility is commissioned.

Cable theft hits power supply

The progress on electricity projects has been accompanied by losses from the theft and vandalism of power infrastructure.

Ganakgomo said 44 power cables had been stolen in Lobatse since the beginning of the year. Of those, 27 had been replaced, leaving 17 still awaiting replacement.

“Since the start of this year alone, criminals have stolen 44 power cables. While we have replaced 27 of them, 17 are yet to be replaced,” he said.

Seven transformer looping cables have also been stolen, according to the mayor. Four mini-substations have been vandalised for their transformer oil.

Ganakgomo said the damage was costly and affected electricity delivery and network reliability. He also said the vandalism created serious safety hazards.

The impact has reached public lighting in the town. Ganakgomo said some areas had been left in darkness and street illumination had been affected.

Residents were asked to report suspicious activities to the police.

“If you see something suspicious, immediately report it to the police. We must protect our progress and defend our infrastructure together,” he said.

The council has also chosen solar power as its answer to the effect of grid-related vandalism on street lighting.

Ganakgomo said Lobatse Town Council had resolved to change from grid-powered streetlights to solar-powered streetlights.

The installation of solar streetlights has been included in the Constituency Community Project (CCP) 2026-2027 programme, which is awaiting funding.

Procurement of solar streetlight fittings is already underway, he said, as the council prepares to improve illumination across the town.

The development means Lobatse is pursuing several solar projects at the same time: a 4MW plant nearing completion, rooftop systems already being commissioned and a proposed solar streetlight programme.

The mayor’s report also shows that electricity access is being expanded through free grid connections, even as theft and vandalism continue to damage power infrastructure.

With the solar plant now 85 per cent complete, the next stage will involve completing the remaining work before testing and commissioning the facility.