08 Sep 2022

Expansion of the Botswana Oil Reserves at Francistown’s Dumela industrial area will create jobs for Batswana.

Briefing the media on the expansion on Wednesday, Botswana Oil general manager, (operations), Mr Kenamile Mosetlho said about 200 jobs would be created during the construction stage, with some permanent jobs created during the operation stage.

He told journalists and other stakeholders that the strategic fuel reserves in Francistown were currently the biggest petroleum facility in the country with a capacity of 30 million litres.

Mr Mosetlho stated that the expansion was premised on the basis of ensuring the security and efficiency of supply of petroleum products as Botswana is a landlocked country that relied on the importation of such products.

He said the expansion was thus meant to help in cushioning consumers of petroleum products should there be shortage.

He said the fuel reserves would be expanded to double the current capacity to 60 million litres targeting the consumption envelope of the northern part of Botswana.

Mr Mosetlho said the over P900 million project was suspended in 2017 due to financial constraints and was resuscitated in 2021.

Meanwhile, Project Manager, Mr Kabelo Lanka informed the media that the expansion project entailed the building of a load and off-loading road and railway line bay, security buildings, depot administration block, firefighting system as well as truck park station system, amongst others.ENDS