01 Jun 2022

Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has assured the nation of constant  power supply this winter where electricity consumption is expected to shoot up. 

Winter season projections reflect a peak demand of 600MW between 6am and 10am  and from 6pm to 10pm. 

In an interview, BPC marketing and communications manager, Ms Dineo Seleke said the corporation would continue to supply uninterrupted power because post end of May, Morupule B unit four which had been under defects remediation since 2019, would be in commercial operation generating an additional 150MW. Notably, Ms Seleke said the unit was commissioned following successful completion of remedial works. 

“The commissioning which was expected to be completed by May will operate at its full capacity of 150MW which will significantly boost the country’s internal generation capacity with possible surplus power during off-peak times,” she said. 

She indicated that Botswana generated an average of 455MW daily from both Morupule A and B, with a demand for electricity at about 580MW, while the difference was to be covered through power import arrangements with the neighbouring countries in the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). 

She added that Botswana still purchased an average of 150MW of power from Eskom in South Africa 

She noted that BPC still maintained its bilateral power purchase agreement with Eskom, amidst power shortages and load shedding have been a major concern in South Africa lately. 

“Botswana has not implemented load shedding for more than five years, and BPC does not foresee any constraints that will propel them to practice the same.

Currently on average the country generates a total 435MW from Morupule A (75MW) and Morupule B (380MW) against a projected maximum demand of approximately 600MW during the winter period,” she explained. 

She added that BPC had backup diesel power plants (160MW), Matshelagabedi (70MW) and Orapa (90MW) to cover for supply shortfall in the event power imports cannot be secured to meet demand. 

Furthermore, she said BPC would dispatch its backup power plants in the event that power imports became inadequate. Ends