07 Aug 2016

Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Mr Nonofo Molefhi has presented before Parliament the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority Bill, 2016 (No. 12 of 2016).

Mr Molefhi presented the bill as a matter of urgency in accordance with Parliament Standing Order 72 on behalf of Minister of Energy and Water Resources (MEWR), Mr Kitso Mokaila.

When presenting the bill, Mr Molefhi said the enactment of the bill was critical to the development of power plants through private sector led independent power producers’ programme.

He said the MEWR has an independent power producer programme whereby third parties are to construct and operate power generation plants and sell power to Botswana Power Corporation (BPC).

He said the first of such has been awarded to Marubeni POSCO Consortium, adding that it was critical that there was certainty and comfort to the investors on the legal framework governing the Independent Power Producers (IPP) programme. The absence of the legal framework would be a risk and failure to IPP projects.“The bearer brings such certainty in the legislative framework,” he said. ENDS