Botswana plans to build 750 small-scale biogas digesters nationwide by 2026, aiming to significantly reduce the carbon footprint in the energy sector, an official announced on Tuesday.
“This initiative demonstrates Botswana’s strong commitment to the global transition to clean energy,” said Lefoko Moagi, Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, while addressing councilors during a full council session in Francistown, the country’s second-largest city.
In November 2019, Botswana partnered with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to launch a comprehensive biogas program. The primary applications of biogas include cooking, heating, and lighting.
According to Moagi, Botswana has developed the capacity for biogas investment and strengthened agro-waste management and regulations. The country aims to train 200 biogas builders by leveraging existing expertise.
Despite currently relying on fossil fuels for energy production, Botswana has set ambitious targets. These include increasing the contribution of renewable energy to 30 percent by 2030 and reducing carbon emissions by 15 percent by the same year, Moagi explained.
Moagi emphasized that by setting such ambitious goals, Botswana acknowledges its responsibility to protect the planet for future generations, underscoring its commitment to global green energy solutions.
