28 Mar 2022

The decision to reduce the electricity connection fee from P5 000 to P2 500 in single-headed households is hailed as a positive development that will impact gender mainstreaming in the energy sub-sector.

The sentiments were expressed by Kgatleng District councillors during the full council meeting recently when responding to a presentation on National Energy Policy for Botswana by the chief energy officer, Mr Kesetsenao Molosiwa.

The councillors noted that electricity was no longer a luxury, but one of the essentials in the hierarchy of basic needs.

According to the policy presented before councillors, 55 per cent of households headed by women were mostly poor and did not afford connection the fee.

Mr Molosiwa said this had, as a result, limited women’s chances of economic empowerment, and challenged government to prioritise gender mainstreaming in the energy sub-sector so as to be compliant with global village standards.

In that regard, he said the National Energy Policy would revise the standard costs so that the less privileged may connect their homes. 

However, he elaborated that the dispensation would be undertaken following assessments of the affected households.

“We want to be responsive to these issues and reduce connection fees in homes from the current P5 000 to P2 500,” he said. Mr Molosiwa stated that the policy, which was adopted by the 12^th Parliament last year, outlined the national intentions of government to manage the energy sector.

“The policy is intended to achieve energy sufficiency and optimise energy needs so that we achieve the least energy cost needs and low carbon emissions,” he stated

He further stated that the policy was founded on achieving economic development to ensure there was equitable energy distribution and environmentally responsive energy supply.

Furthermore, he said Botswana as a party to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, having adopted the Paris Agreement, in 2015, had made a voluntary commitment through its first Nationally Determined Contribution to reduce the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent by the year 2030.

“We also emphasise that whatever we do, we ensure energy security as well as reliability and we reduce atmospheric emissions,” he said.

Councillor for Pilane, Mr Goitsemodimo Pitse wanted to know when the Tshele fuel storage tanks would become operational. 

He also wanted to know how much raw materials were salvaged from Pilane landfill for electricity generation.

Councillor for Sikwane-Mabalane, Mr Seth Sekate wanted to know long term solutions for electricity interruptions in the river villages that were supplied from the South Africa power grid. 

He said rampant power outages were a cause for concern and wanted to know how the policy addressed such outages. Ends