Exchange of Notes for Environmental Program Grant Aid for the Republic of Botswana (The Project for Introduction of Clean Energy by Solar Electricity Generation System)

February 4, 2010
Japanese

The Government of Japan has decided to extend environmental program grant aid (the Project for Introduction of Clean Energy by Solar Electricity Generation System) totaling 1.11 billion JPY to the Republic of Botswana. Notes to this effect were exchanged on February 4 (Thu) (local time: same day) in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, between Mr. Ryoichi Matsuyama, Japanese Ambassador to Botswana, and Mr. Kenneth Matambo, Minister of Finance and Development Planning.
Over seventy-five percent of the electrical power supply in Botswana is imported from neighboring countries, and raising the rate of energy self-reliance is an urgent issue. Botswana is aiming not only to improve their energy capacity, but also to realize economic growth and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously. For this reason, they are proactively promoting the introduction of renewable energy, including solar power.
This grant aid provides the necessary funds for maintaining the solar power generation system interconnected with a transformer substation in the outskirts of Gaborone, the capital city. Along with reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, this project is a precursor to proceeding with the plan of constructing a large-scale solar power generation facility, which Botswana is currently considering.
This grant aid is a part of Japan's commitment to Africa announced at the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) held in May 2008 to strengthen cooperation towards efforts in the field of climate change countermeasures within African countries.

(Reference)　The Republic of Botswana is located in southern Africa. It covers a land area of 582,000 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 1.9 million people (World Bank, 2008). Botswana’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita is 6,470 USD (World Bank, 2008).

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