18 Jun 2025

The scale and ambition of the ongoing Mmamapula energy project an opportunity for local and international financiers and capital markets to mobilise funding in ways that balances risk, return and developmental impact.

When making a presentation on ‘Developing a World Class Privately funded Coal Energy Project’ during the future of mining summit, Jindal Africa Chief Executive Officer, Mr Parshant Goyal said that Mmamapula project was infrastructure-intensive, thus offering Botswana an opportunity to strengthen national and regional infrastructure through strategic partnerships that benefit the project and the broader economy.

“With over P1.87 billion including P600 million directly in to citizen owned business already injected in the Mmamabula project, the project is not only driving infrastructure growth but also empowering local economic players and was already delivering tangible results,” he said.

He noted that building a large-scale electricity generating plant of Mmamabula caliber would provide various economic growth opportunities through the empowerment of local business entities and job creation as skill transfer. The projects, therefore he said offered opportunities for local procurement and supply chain developing.

“At Jindal, we priorities sourcing goods and service from the local community either be the SMMEs or citizen owned enterprises. Our partnership with local contractors, manufactures and logistics as well as other service providers will help shape the competitiveness of Botswana’s industrial ecosystem,” he said.

He said that the Mmamabula energy project aligned national energy security with economic diversification, job creation and demonstrated what may be achieved with public private partnership. 

He said Jindal was committed to building a world class energy solution to Botswana and the entire region.

“The journey of this project is one of vision, resilience, and collaboration. From securing the mining licenses and environmental clearances, to signing key commercial agreements and beginning pre-construction works, Jindal has shown commitment to not just developing a mine, but to building a world-class energy solution for Botswana and the region,” he said.

With the expected capacity of 600 megawatts, the project is earmarked to be a game changer as it will inject reliable electricity supply to the national grid thus reducing dependence on importation of energy and enhance local production.

Mr Goyal indicated that the commencement of the 30 kilometers Jindal Capricorn road construction from Tropic of Capricorn to the Mmamapula Site was already underway. 

The road, he said would enhance local and regional trade corridors and reduce logistical costs for both the project and local industries.

Officially rolled out in October 2023, the public-private partnership project between Jindal Africa and the government of Botswana aims to bolster the energy sector.

The project covers the design, finance, construction, ownership, operation, maintenance and decommissioning at the end of its economic life (minimum 30 years) of a 300MW net greenfield coal-fired power plant as an independent power producer. ENDS