07 Jul 2015

Gakgatla and Mmatseta in the Kweneng District are among 10 villages that will have electricity connection this financial year. The other eight villages are Tewane, Sehunou, Kutamogoree, Lorolwane, Moremi, Botlhatlogo, Sexaxa and Semane. 

Funding for these projects will come from the over P3.316 billion development budget of the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources (MMEWR). The exercise to expand the number of villages connected with electricity is government’s effort to ensure that more Batswana have access to electricity so that they can improve their social and economic wellbeing.

By the end of the 2014/15 financial year, 378 out of 492 villages in Botswana had been connected to the electricity supply grid. The minister, Mr Kitso Mokaila, said the national access to electricity had risen from 63 per cent in December, 2011 to 70 per cent this year.

Government’s target is for 80 per cent of Batswana to have access to electricity by 2016. To achieve this, government aims to carry out extension of electricity distribution networks in 24 villages already connected with electricity.

Some of these villages are Molepolole, Mogoditshane, Gakuto, and Lentsweletau in Kweneng District, Palapye, Shoshong, Mmashoro, and Paje in the Central District. Others are Bokaa, Modipane, Oodi, Rasesa, and Mochudi in the Kgatleng District, Ntlhantlhe and Molapowabojang in the Southern District, as well as Ramotswa, Gungwe, Kang, Maun, Tati Siding, Tlokweng, Borolong, Hukuntsi and Zwenshambe.

Still under renewable energy and power development, which received P112 million, government will establish water and energy regulator as well as continue with Jatropha Research Project. ENDS