11 Mar 2014

Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources (MMEWR), Mr Kitso Mokaila on Monday asked Parliament to approve the 2014/15 budget estimates for his ministry amounting to over P3.797 billion.

The minister said over P297.8 million was for recurrent while the development budget had been allocated close to P3.5 billion.

A bulk of the development budget, over P1 billion will be used for the completion of the few components still ongoing under the Dikgatlhong, Lotsane and Thune dams as well as construction of the North South Carrier (NSC) II Pipeline. He said the funds will also be used to continue to undertake the emergency water projects.

The minister also requested that the P300m be earmarked for the implementation of Maun Water and Sanitation Project, Kanye connection to the NSC pipeline project, Palapye and Mahalapye Network Extension as well as the installation of Water Utilities prepaid metres.

Mr Mokaila further proposed that P2 billion for the on-going Morupule B Power Project, Emergency Power Generation Project as well as the refurbishment of Morupule A.

He said his ministry will also start implementation of the North West Transmission Grid Project, Rakola Sub-station and Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia (ZIZABONA) projects. “A bulk of these projects will be given to Botswana Power Corporation for funding, “he said.

The minister further requested approval of P80m to be used for the implementation of Kanye and Molepolole sewerage schemes.

Meanwhile, under the recurrent budget, the department of Geological surveys will require over P33m, which he said represent the decrease of over P7m or 17.7 per cent for the current 2013/14 financial year budget.

He said significant decrease was a result of the decrease in the personnel emoluments, departmental services, maintenance and running and special expenditure provisions.

Mr Mokaila said the request for the Department of Water Affairs of over P129m for the current year provision of over P193m also presents a decrease of P63m or 33 per cent that is due to the significant decrease in Add Back Items (Hire Charges and Major Village Water Supply) Maintenance and Running and Special Expenditure provisions.

He also proposed that an amount of P17m be used for the Department of Mines, which the minister said represent an increase of P3m or 22 per cent from current financial year provision, due to the increase in personnel emoluments and special expenditure provisions.

“The bulk of the provision of the Department of Mines goes to the personnel emoluments at P14 860 100 (85 per cent)”,”he said. The budget proposal for the Department of Energy Affairs amounts to over P10m, which the minister said was a new department and was catered for under the headquarters budget in the previous year.

“The bulk of the provision goes to personnel emoluments at P7 354 270 (70 .4 per cent) and oil storage depots operation at P1 140 000 (10 per cent),” he said. ENDS