05 Nov 2013

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama says the power supply situation in the country has improved significantly.

Delivering the State-of-the-Nation-Address on November 4,  President  Khama said the combination of power from Morupule B, peaking plants at both Orapa and Matshelagabedi as well as imported power from South Africa, local power demand was currently being met.

He said procurement for the construction of an additional 300 MW Brownfield site at Morupule A as well as 300 MW from a Greenfield site by an independent power producer were underway to ensure the long term security of power supplies.

He said challenges in meeting local energy needs have been rooted in growing demand as well as past bottlenecks in supply, noting however that household electricity connectivity has been impressive.

“Since 2010 the National Electricity Standard Connection Cost scheme has enabled 32 842 households to connect to the national grid as of September 2013. Nationally household access to electricity now stands at 68 per cent, up from 27 per cent in 2003 and within range of our 2016 target of 80 per cent,” he said.

President Khama said 28 villages have been electrified along with further extension of infrastructure in already electrified villages at an estimated cost of P93 million in 2012. The total number of electrified villages now stands at 364 out of an estimated total of 494 villages.

On another issue, President Khama said the national oil company, Botswana Oil Limited was now operational with a mandate to ensure security of fuel supplies, promote citizen economic empowerment as well as manage strategic petroleum stocks. Ends