Francistown Clean Energy Hub (FCEH), a public private partnership between African Sun Energy (Pty) Ltd and the City of Francistown Council was honoured to host the British High Commissioner and UK Special Representative to SADC, His Excellency Giles Enticknap during his official visit to Francistown. The occasion underscored Botswana’s steady progress in advancing renewable energy solutions while highlighting the importance of local capacity building and international cooperation in accelerating the clean energy transition.
The city’s Clean Energy Public-Private Partnership (PPP), which is set to implement 21 renewable energy projects across Francistown in the coming months strengthening UK and Botswana ties in the clean and renewable energy sector. A key stop was Tagala Primary School, a flagship project demonstrating how clean energy can transform education, reduce operational costs, and inspire the next generation.
During his remarks, the High Commissioner commended the learners for their performance and for communicating the importance of solar energy:
“Not only does it make economic sense for your school, it makes economic sense for Botswana, but it also makes sense for the future of our planet and the future of those children, their children’s children. At its core, all of this is about protecting lives. We all have a real, shared, and equal responsibility to do that, whether as the head teacher, the town clerk, or the private sector.”
He further emphasized that renewable energy is not only a matter of sustainability but also of economic opportunity and national resilience:
“Renewable energy makes sense for jobs. It makes sense for investors. It makes sense for the future of this country and the future of the planet. As the UK, we are proud to support Botswana in that endeavor, whether through partnerships like we have with African Sun Energy.”
The High Commissioner also highlighted Botswana’s leadership in environmental stewardship, noting that the world has much to learn from the nation’s strong record of ecosystem protection, from the Okavango Delta to the Makgadikgadi Pans. He underscored that clean growth and responsible energy choices are at the heart of the UK-Botswana partnership.
For African Sun Energy, the visit reaffirmed its mission of driving Botswana’s clean energy transition by combining international partnerships, local skills development, and innovative renewable energy solutions.
