29 Jan 2018

Completion of North West Transmission Grid Connection Project (NWTG) would open an opportunity to reduce dependency on power imports.
Botswana Power Corporation chief operations officer, Mr Jonathan Raheem Hosseini said recently during the project ground breaking ceremony in Letlhakane that NWTG would reduce dependency on power imports from Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia as the country would have its own infrastructure to meet local demand for electricity while on the other hand BPC would export power to the SADC region through Southern African Power pool market.
He indicated that Phase one of the NWTG project had been divided into nine stages and each contractor would construct and commission three stages. That he said was a conscious decision made by BPC in order to balance capacity and ensure efficient implementation of the project.
Phase one of NWTG, he said commenced this month and would run through December 2019. Mr Raheem Hosseini said NWTG phase one would see construction of a 500km 400kV backbone transmission line from Morupule B to Maine via Orapa, two 400kV substations and 220kV/132kV lines and substations connecting Toteng, Ghanzi, Shakawe and Gumare to the said 400kV line.
Phase two, he noted, would see extension of 400kV grid from Phokoje in Selebi Phikwe to Pandamatenga via Dukwi and 220kV to Kasane/Kazungula.
The corporation, he said, would be increasing its human resource capacity, including training of staff over the next two years to cater for operations and maintenance of the extended grid to ensure reliable power supply when the project got into operational phase by end of 2019.
The ground breaking of phase one was undertaken by three contractors being Kalpataru, Larsen and Turbo Limited. Phase one would be valued at P2.4 million while phase II had been allocated another P2.4 billion.
The project, which would be implemented in two phases, would create employment for 2 100 people each phase during the period of construction with about 81 per cent being local citizens.
Mr Raheem Hosseini indicated that about 5 000 jobs to 8 000 permanent jobs would be created in various sectors of the economy once the project had been completed and business operations grown and established in the North West District.
The NWTG would provide grid access to all sectors of the economy such as mining, tourism, commercial, domestic and further improve the quality of electricity and reliability of supply in the country in the North Western District, thereby positioning the area as a lucrative investment zone for different economic players.
The CEO of Kalpataru, Mr David Vanzyl said the company would employ locals and embark on skills transfer. Mr Vanzyl indicated that the borehole system to be used for the project would be handed over to the community after completion.  
The Member of Parliament for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said the project would enhance business operations country wide as there would be sustainable and reliable power connection. Ends