Bio-Watt Botswana
From an Idea to a Growing Renewable Energy Enterprise
The Starting Point
Obuile entered the KBL KickStart Programme with an entrepreneurial idea: to manufacture environmentally friendly charcoal and briquettes from organic waste as an alternative source of energy.
The Support
Through the programme, founder Obuile Morewane received entrepreneurship and business development training delivered by IED, helping him refine the concept and prepare the business for commercialisation.
Following the training, Bio-Watt pitched its business concept and emerged as one of the ten enterprises selected for funding, securing P150,000 to turn the idea into an operating business.
IED continued supporting Bio-Watt beyond the competition. This included assistance with sourcing production machinery from China, setting up operations and preparing the product for entry into the market.
The Transformation
What started as an idea developed into a renewable energy enterprise producing biomass charcoal and briquettes from organic waste.
Bio-Watt subsequently expanded beyond its original product into a broader energy and engineering business. Today, the company describes itself as a 100% citizen-owned Botswana engineering company providing electrical, mechanical, solar and renewable-energy solutions. It has also established the Bio-Watt Institute of Renewable Energy, extending its activities into renewable-energy training and capacity building.
The company’s growth has attracted recognition beyond Botswana. Bio-Watt was a 2021 SEED Climate Adaptation Awards winner and was named Botswana’s 2024 National ENERGY GLOBE Award winner for its project converting organic waste into biomass charcoal and briquettes. Its environmental model provides an alternative to firewood while turning organic waste into a productive energy resource.
