Thato Chwaane
29 August 2007
The Solar Energy Curriculum Development (SECD) was launched at the Madirelo Training and Testing Centre yesterday. Speaking at the launch, acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Kago Moshashane, said that solar energy can provide electricity in areas where it is difficult or too expensive to extend the national power grid.
He said Botswana has limited energy sources but is blessed with abundant sunshine for most of the year.
He said the government has decided to install solar water heating systems in its houses. He said that the systems have not worked satisfactorily mainly due to sub-standard installations as well as lack of maintenance. Moshashane said that this has created a negative perception that solar energy does not work or is inferior. "For extended and sustainable use of solar energy in the country, it is essential to develop infrastructure and capacity as well as resources for its installation and maintenance. Therefore there is need for a pool of well-trained, skilled and committed engineers and technicians to advance the related technologies," Moshashane said. He called for the training of artisans to cut the number of unemployed people in the country.
Assistant Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri said that the use of solar water heating systems has remained low due to poor maintenance arising from inadequate knowledge and skills in the technologies involved.
He said that SECD would demonstrate how skills could be used to improve the product quality and efficiency. He said that the demand for formal courses on solar heating systems and solar photovoltaic electricity is high.
Matlhabaphiri said that SECD comes at the right time, coinciding with new market activities, especially in the solar photovoltaic sector geared at alleviating impending energy shortages. He said the goal of the programme is to establish appropriate technical capacity to ensure that solar energy systems function properly during their intended life span and encourage widespread use in Botswana.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 Mmegi/The Reporter. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
