A Solar Lantern Lease Scheme (SLLS) is proposed in four villages in the Central District. The project will make high quality light available to rural households and protect the environment simultaneously by means of offering a lease scheme for Solar Lanterns. In the scheme initially 100 households will be able to purchase a Solar Lantern with a down payment, and pay the remainder over a time period varying between 12 and 24 months. The main objective of the project is to promote a renewable energy technology which up to now has little exposure in Botswana, and gain experience with a lease scheme on a cost recovery basis for solar lanterns which, if proved to be successful may be replicated in other villages.

A proposal for the introduction of the SLLS has been written and submitted to GEF/SGP. This particular project seeks to mobilise communities and collect baseline information for the preparation of a project proposal to promote solar lanterns in marginal areas.