SUPPLY OF RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY TO DEBSWANA OPERATIONS

Gaborone, Botswana – Botswana Power Cordoration (BPC) and Debswana Diamond Comdany recentlv announced the signing of a

• Memorandum of Agreement on Renewable Energy Certificates. This strategic partnership will enable Debswana operations to access and demonstrate the use of renewable electricity, sourced from the planned solar plants in the national Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), further advancing Botswana’s commitment to sustainable energy.

The Chief Executive Officer of BC, David Kgoboko said,”This initiative reflects Botswana’s commitment to the global climate agenda and supports

the national IRP to build a cleaner. more resilient energy future. With I.5 GW of planned renewables and 50 MW already online at Mmadinare Solar Plant, BPC is delivering real progress towards a sustainable energy mix.””

The Memorandum of Agreement (Mo) establishes a framework to harness renewable energy attributes from solar power stations, creating a platform to drive industrial decarbonisation, starting with major players like Debswana. These attributes are quantified through Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), a globally recognised mechanism that allows companies to transparently demonstrate renewable energy use and reduce their carbon footprint.

Debswana’s Managing Director Andrew Maatla Motsomi said. “Debswana ‘s decarbonisation strategy is structured around four key pillars which are: reducing energy intensity; transitioning to alternative fuels; decarbonising electricity supply; and carbon recovery initiatives. As part of our decarbonisation strategy, we have been actively improving operational energy efficiency and surpassed annual target. We have also made significant strides in decarbonising our electricity supply, commissioning over 1.6MW of rooftop solar capacity across Debswana operations.” Recognising diesel consumption as a significant source of carbon emissions. Motsomi said that Debswana took a bold step in 2024 to pilot electric vehicles at its mines. He emphasised that carbon recovery initiatives remain a key focus area for the business, as it explores both technological advancements and nature-based solutions to accelerate decarbonisation efforts. Motsomi further added that Debswana’s journey towards carbon neutrality and green diamonds will enrich the appeal and story of Botswana’s natural diamonds