25 September 2026: The Government of Botswana, through the Ministry of Minerals and Energy, with support from Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), launched two complementary national instruments designed to accelerate the country’s renewable energy development while unlocking new opportunities for clean technology manufacturing and investment. The launch event took place on the sidelines of New York City Climate Week and the UN General Assembly.
The Botswana National Renewable Energy Power Sector Plan and the Botswana Clean Technology Manufacturing Policy and Investment Guide provide a coordinated framework for Botswana to move from renewable energy ambition to implementation, strengthening the power sector while positioning the country to capture greater economic value from the clean energy transition.
The Botswana National Renewable Energy Power Sector Plan provides the analytical foundation for scaling renewable generation. It sets out scenarios, investment priorities and recommendations to guide the development of Botswana’s power sector towards its 2030 renewable energy target and beyond.
Complementing this, the Botswana Clean Technology Manufacturing Policy and Investment Guide looks beyond electricity generation to the wider industrial opportunity presented by the energy transition. It identifies opportunities to develop domestic value chains around solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing and related industries, while outlining the policy incentives, institutional support and investment-enabling measures available to attract and retain private capital. The Guide also places Botswana’s clean technology manufacturing ambitions within the broader regional market, highlighting opportunities arising from SADC, SACU and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) frameworks.
Together, the Plan and the Guide provide a coherent investment proposition: a pathway to expand renewable power while using that expansion as a platform for industrial development, job creation, value-chain growth and economic diversification.
Speaking at the launch, Hon. Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Republic of Botswana, said:
“Botswana is entering a new phase in its energy development, one in which renewable energy is central to strengthening our power system and creating new opportunities for investment, industrial development and economic diversification. These two instruments give us a practical roadmap to move from ambition to implementation, creating the policy clarity and investment opportunities needed to build a competitive renewable energy and clean technology sector in Botswana.”
Damilola Ogunbiyi, the CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), said:
“Botswana has an opportunity to turn its renewable energy ambition into an engine for broader economic transformation, one that can drive investment, innovation and sustainable growth across sectors. We commend the Government of Botswana, and particularly the Ministry of Minerals and Energy, for its leadership. We are proud to have supported the development of these two important instruments.”
The launch comes at a critical moment for Botswana as it seeks to expand reliable and affordable electricity access while creating jobs and strengthening domestic industrial capacity. The two instruments therefore mark an important step towards a more integrated approach to the energy transition, linking renewable power deployment with industrial policy, investment mobilization and regional economic integration.
The Government of Botswana will work with public and private sector partners to support the implementation of the recommendations and help translate the identified opportunities into investments that contribute to Botswana’s long-term energy security, economic diversification and sustainable development.
