Morupule Coal Mine Boosts Clean Energy Skills Through Supplier Development Training

Morupule Coal Mine Boosts Clean Energy Skills Through Supplier Development Training. Morupule Coal Mine (MCM), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Botswana Clean Energy Research Centre, hosted a two-day SOLTRAIN+ Supplier Development Training from 11–12 September 2025. The session, held on-site at MCM, focused on building capacity in solar energy systems for citizen suppliers, employees, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) lecturers.

The training was delivered under MCM’s Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme, designed to strengthen local participation in the energy value chain. Participants engaged in modules on solar thermal technology, energy efficiency, and sustainable development, aligning with Botswana’s national energy transition agenda. By addressing practical integration of solar energy into industrial and community settings, the programme aimed to equip stakeholders with knowledge critical for advancing clean energy solutions.

SOLTRAIN+ is a regional initiative supported by the Austrian Development Cooperation and implemented locally by the Solar Industries Association of Botswana. Its goal is to promote skills development, local innovation, and the adoption of sustainable technologies across Southern Africa.

For Botswana’s business community, the initiative demonstrates how partnerships between industry, academia, and development organisations can unlock opportunities within the renewable energy sector. With demand for sustainable energy solutions growing, suppliers trained through such programmes stand to gain competitive advantages in both local and regional markets.

Participants successfully completed a written assessment and were awarded certificates of participation, signalling readiness to apply their skills in advancing green technologies. For MCM, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to promote environmental stewardship, economic empowerment, and private sector development.