Muscat – His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and President Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana oversaw the signing of several cooperation agreements in Muscat on Monday, marking a step forward in economic ties between the two countries.

The accords cover mineral exploration, petroleum storage infrastructure and the development of a large-scale solar power project.

Abdulsalam Mohammed Al Murshidi, President of Oman Investment Authority (OIA), said the agreements reflect Oman’s economic diplomacy and its strategy of building partnerships abroad while attracting investment into domestic sectors. “The relationship with Botswana has progressed rapidly since diplomatic ties were established in July 2025, leading to investment projects and reciprocal visits,” Murshidi said.

Among the agreements, OQ signed a framework with Botswana Oil to assess cooperation in fuel supply and storage. The two sides will examine the feasibility of developing coastal import and storage facilities in Botswana and the surrounding region linked to inland strategic stockpiles to strengthen fuel security.

The initial phase will focus on technical and commercial assessments, including supply models, regulatory frameworks and risk allocation. Ashraf Hamad Al Maamari, CEO of OQ Group, said the agreement reflects a partnership-based approach to developing the energy sector. “We look forward to evaluating practical and scalable solutions that enhance fuel security and create sustainable investment opportunities,” he said.

Latelang Chakalisa, Acting CEO of Botswana Oil, said fuel security remains a national priority and that cooperation with OQ would support the evaluation of integrated supply and storage solutions.

In the renewable energy sector, O-Green, a subsidiary of OIA, signed a power purchase agreement with Botswana Power Corporation to develop a 500MW solar photovoltaic plant in Maun, supported by a 500MW battery energy storage system.

The project is the first to reach implementation stage under a broader 3,000MW energy cooperation framework agreed between the two nations in November 2025. Once operational, the plant is expected to double Botswana’s effective generating capacity and support its target of meeting 50% of electricity demand from sustainable sources by 2030.

President Boko said the agreements are of strategic significance and would help Botswana move towards energy self-sufficiency and potential exports.

In mining, Minerals Development Oman signed a cooperation agreement with Exploration Investment Company Botswana to advance geological evaluation and joint development of mineral resources. The partnership will include data exchange, technical capacity building and assessment of investment opportunities in strategic minerals.

Omani officials said the projects will move into implementation phase following the signing, underscoring a widening economic partnership spanning energy, mining and infrastructure.