06 Sep 2024

STORY ON PAGE 6 - MONDAY SEPT 9

Puma Energy Botswana has launched project Maatlafatsa, a Citizen Economic Empowerment programme aimed at uplifting citizens in the fuel sector and stimulating economic growth across the nation.

The initiative reaffirms Puma Energy’s steadfast commitment to Botswana, where the company has invested about P2.1 billion since entering the market in 2010, so said Puma Energy Botswana managing director, Mr Dominic Dhanah.

Mr Dhanah said Project Maatlafatsa was built on Puma Energy Botswana’s ongoing efforts to promote citizen and economic empowerment, adding that its strategic priorities included increasing citizen ownership of Puma Energy Botswana, promoting entrepreneurship through local procurement and partnering with local businesses, investing in the development of youth through graduate training programmes, promoting skills development within the company’s workforces and partner organisations, and creating jobs.

“We believe that empowering citizens is crucial to building a prosperous and sustainable future for the energy sector in Botswana. Project Maatlafatsa commits us to playing a meaningful role in this journey, in partnership with the government and our stakeholders, and to driving sustainable change within the fuel sector,” said Mr Dhanah.

He said currently, Botswana Public Offices Pension Fund’s 164 977 members collectively owned 20 per cent of the company, revealing that there were plans to increase the ownership and explore other citizen ownership initiatives.

Mr Dhanah said key focus on the project was human capital development, which aimed to equip Batswana with the necessary skills and competencies to seize economic opportunities, manage business entities, and thrive in a competitive economy.

He said entrepreneurship masterclass, a cornerstone of the initiative, would offer intensive two to three-day training for at least 20 students annually, followed by a three-month attachment at various sites nationwide.

Moreover, he said the programme was designed to empower young Batswana with enhanced business skills, increasing their potential to succeed in entrepreneurship or stand out in the job market.

In addition, he said Puma Energy Botswana was also committed to supporting citizen entrepreneurs through local procurement, mentioning that the company aimed to source 100 per cent of fuel and 40 per cent of non-fuel products and services from citizen-owned companies by the end of 2024.

He reiterated that recently his company transferred all its internal transportation services from its storage facilities to its sites to citizen transporters, evidence of its commitment to supporting local businesses.

To enhance this initiative further, he said Puma Energy Botswana was assisting the transporters with additional systems and equipment to enhance the safe delivery of their loads and it’s provision of real time coaching operators.

He said such a move helped to identify issues promptly, ensuring continuous improvement in operations, reducing the risk of contamination, and providing security of supply.

Mr Dhanah said their extensive infrastructure network, which had been expanding since the company entered the market, now included 850 000 cubic storage capacity across four international airports, ensuring aviation fuel security for the country.

He said the network also comprised 44 retail sites and 21 convenience stores, each creating employment opportunities for local community members, adding that Puma Energy Botswana’s partnership with Sefalana and Choppies, equally demonstrated Project Maatlafatsa in action with approximately 150 Batswana employees across five existing sites contributing to the sustainability of the communities they served.

Mr Dhanah urged Batswana to pay attention to local newspapers in a week’s time to acquaint themselves with eligibility criteria and guidelines to participate in the company’s programmes. Ends