Botswana, Cameroon issue tender, sign contracts for combined 125MW of PV capacity

The African countries of Botswana and Cameroon have taken steps to add a combined 125MW of installed PV capacity to their respective national grids. 

Botswana utility company Botswana Power Corp has sent out a request for qualification (RFQ) to interested companies and other parties for the development of 100MW of PV capacity, split into two seperate 50MW solar projects. 

The RFQ will look to identify suitable independent power producers for the two sites, which Botswana Power Corp would buy power from under a long-term PPA. While no financial information was announced in the tender document, all interested parties have until 11 September 2019 to pre-qualify. 

Back in May, the Botswana Power Corporation cancelled a proposed 100MW solar tender, with the utility planning to own the two 50MW installations in conjunction with a private investor. This new tender represents the shift in which IPPs will take on all responsibilities when it comes to the two sites.

Cameroon signs MoU for 25MW of PV projects

Meanwhile, Eneo, a power utility company in Cameroon, has signed off on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a consortium of renewable energy developers for the development of two PV projects with a total installed capacity of 25MW. 

This consortium includes Scatec Solar, Izuba Energy and Sphynx Energy. 

The pipeline will feature a 15MW project developed near Maroua in the Far North Province, while a 10MW site will be developed in Guider in the North Province of the country. These two projects represent an investment of US$24.5 million and will provide 49 GWh of electricity annually to Eneo, who will purchase the generated energy by way of a PPA. 

Both projects are scheduled to be commissioned in 2020, and will help improve the energy mix within Cameroon, especially within the North Interconnected Grid.