Botswana signs energy and mineral exploration deals with Oman

Botswana’s president has clinched multiple ​agreements with Oman, including on mineral exploration, oil storage infrastructure and renewable ‌power, during a visit to the Gulf nation designed to strengthen economic ties, the presidency said on Monday. Another deal was for the development of a 500-megawatt solar power plant that ‌follows ⁠on from an announcement on March 20 that NAQAA Sustainable Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Oman’s state-owned O-Green, had been selected to design, finance, construct, and operate the plant in northwest Botswana. It will have a minimum operational life of 25 years as Botswana ​seeks to increase ​the contribution of renewable ⁠energy in its power supply from 8% now to 50% by 2030. The presidency’s statement said the plant would position Botswana “to secure ​its energy future and unlock long-term economic value”.