13 Jul 2026

Botswana’s quest to transition from an electricity importer from South Africa’s Eskom and other regional grids into an active net exporter of electricity within the region is in full swing as the country is making gains in self-sufficiency.

This was revealed by the recent released Statistics Botswana report on the country’s electricity generation and distribution which states that electricity imports dropped significantly year-on-year, indicating reduced dependence on external energy sources despite quarterly shifts. 

The government has set a clear and ambitious vision to position Botswana as a citizen led regional energy hub and with the implementation of the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) and National Development Plan 12 (NDP12), electricity demand is expected to accelerate significantly.

According to the report, imported electricity has decreased by 29.8 per cent (207, 374 MWh) during the first quarter of 2026 as compared to the previous quarter, 313, 629 MWh.

The significant decline of imported electricity is directly attributable to the substantial increase in domestic electricity generation. The report further stated that the generation and distribution landscape in Botswana is rapidly transforming to achieve greater energy security and regional export goals.

Botswana generates electricity primarily through coal-fired thermal plants like Morupule B (600 MW) and Morupule A (100 MW), backed by emergency diesel plants. 

To overcome historic plant defects and reliance on foreign imports, the country is aggressively adding utility-scale solar such as the 100 MW Mmadinare and upcoming Jwaneng solar plants.

In addition, the utilisation of solar for electricity generation has allowed the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) to prioritise cheaper local renewable energy over variable-priced imports from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and South Africa’s Eskom.

The report also stated that the physical volume of imported electricity decreased by 61.8 per cent (357,161 MWh), during the first quarter of 2026 from 577, 466 MWh during the first quarter of 2025 to 220, 305 MWh.

Eskom was the principal source of imported electricity, accounting for 80.9 percent of total imports while cross-border electricity markets supplied 11.3 per cent and the Southern African Power Pool accounted for a marginal 7.8 per cent.

The report further states that the Index of Electricity Generation (IEG) stood at 214.5 in the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 72.8 per cent compared to 124.2 recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2025 and the index increased by 20.0 per cent, compared to the preceding quarter.

However, a recently released statement from BPC indicated that the energy sector development is guided by the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which provides a long-term, least-cost roadmap aligned with national development priorities.

Generation performance is thus expected to improve in the near term, following remediation works at Morupule B Power Station and the commercial operation of the 100 MW Mmadinare Solar PV Plant. 

These interventions are expected to increase the share of electricity demand met by local generation to at least 72 per cent on a sustained basis, strengthening energy security, reducing reliance on power imports and supporting Botswana’s transition toward a more resilient and diversified energy mix. ENDS