15 May 2025

The construction of a 26 kilometre road by Jindal Energy Botswana represents commitment of government in connecting communities, enhancing mobility and creating pathways to prosperity.

Speaking at a ground-breaking ceremony for the project yesterday at the Jindal Capricorn Camp, Assistant Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Keoagile Atamelang said the road which would transform from a basic gravel road to a modern tarred road built to Botswana specifications with durability and safety at its core, is more than just infrastructure development.

He said citizen owned companies are engaged in the construction of Jindal Capricorn Road bearing to the fact that it is a lifeline for the project. The project entails upgrading the 26 km gravel road from A1 junction at Tropic of Capricorn to Jindal Mmamabula Energy Project. He said the project would create employment for people in the area and it was expected to change the lives of the people for the better.

“It will connect communities, boost access, open new trade routes, and spark new economic activity,’’ he said.

He said the route served as a vital link between the national A1 highway and the developing Jindal Mmamabula Energy Project, a cornerstone of the energy diversification strategy. He expressed confidence that the road would open up economic pathways for local communities from access to markets to improved mobility, creating a corridor of opportunity that extends far beyond its physical dimensions. He said the Jindal Mmamabula Energy Project was more than a power station but a vehicle of transformation.

“The project embodies our shared vision to build a resilient, sustainable, and inclusive future as promised by our government,’’ he said.

Mr Atamelang said the 600MW Mmamabula project would strengthen the national grid and position Botswana as a regional energy player and the 30-year power purchase agreement with BPC ensures long-term energy security. He said over P1.7 billion had already been invested, with P600 million channelled into citizen owned businesses while more than 600 jobs had been created, with the number expected to double shortly. He further said that over 5,000 jobs will be created during this construction, and at least 1,000 permanent jobs will be sustained thereafter.

“These are real livelihoods. These are real homes lifted from poverty. These are opportunities for our youth, our women and our local entrepreneurs,’’ he said.

Chief Executive Officer for Jindal Africa Mr Parshant Goyal said the road project represented the company’s long-standing commitment to Botswana. 

“We see Botswana not only as a strategic partner but as a country with the stability, talent, and ambition to lead Southern African region into a new energy era,’’ he said. ENDS