11 Nov 2025

Energy remains a sector where more investment is required to meet growing national demand.

Delivering the State-of-the-Nation Address on Monday, President Advocate Duma Boko said the country’s current peak demand stood at 700MW and nominal demand at 450MW.

He said 65 to 70 per cent of national demand was met through local generation, while the remaining 35 per cent was sourced through imports.

President Boko emphasised that to ensure a secure and sustainable energy supply, as well as create capacity for exports, government had embarked on increasing local generation through renewable and thermal power projects.

He said government was developing a total of 900MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation in Maun, Letlhakane and Isang, while 600MW of thermal power was being developed at Mmamabula.

These projects, he said were expected to close the energy deficit and open opportunities for power export, adding that by December, more than 100MW of solar PV would be added to the national grid, while the 600MW thermal plant was targeted for completion in December 2027.

President Boko also highlighted progress at the Morupule B Power Station, noting that ongoing remediation works had started yielding positive results. 

“Three units are already operational, with the final unit expected to be completed by December 2025,” he said.

This development, he added, would bring Botswana’s total local thermal generation capacity to 720MW, including Morupule A’s 120MW.

He said government was further enhancing transmission infrastructure to support both domestic distribution and regional power exports. The North West Transmission Grid Phase 2 Project, he explained, would improve power transmission to the north-western part of the country and facilitate export to neighbouring states.

“Our country is positioning itself to partake in the growing global market for renewable energy certificates,” President Boko said, noting that in July, Botswana submitted an application to the I-Track Foundation to become an authorised issuer of International Renewable Energy Certificates. 

He said once approved, this would create a new revenue stream for project developers and corporate buyers seeking to meet carbon neutrality goals.

On petroleum security, President Boko said government continued to prioritise stable fuel supply, noting that Botswana Oil Limited, through government funding, was advancing strategic storage projects aimed at increasing reserves to 90 days of national cover.

“Our current strategic fuel stocks stand at 15 days of cover,” he said, adding that the expansion of the Francistown Petroleum Depot from 38 million to 98 million litres was 88 per cent complete, while the Ghanzi Depot stood at 55 per cent and was scheduled for commissioning in April and August 2026, respectively. ENDS