Africa-Press – Botswana. The generation of electricity is in a stable condition, says Minister of Minerals and Energy, Mr Lefoko Moagi.
The minister, who was presenting his ministry’s 2024/25 budget proposal before the Parliament committee of supply on Monday March 4, said most of the units at the two Morupule Power Stations were in operation.
He said the availability of Morupule power plants had been at 58 per cent in the year under review, adding that there had been minimum imports from the region to augment local generation.
Further, he said the ministry had made significant progress in the implementation of the integrated resource plan for electricity generation, which sought to ensure self-sufficiency in the electricity supply industry for the country.
He said a number of power generation and transmission projects were being implemented to ensure that the country had adequate, secure and reliable electricity supply.
Mr Moagi also said the Morupule B defects remediation were ongoing, adding that currently the security of supply in terms of adequacy hinged on the reliability of Morupule B coal-fired power station.
He added that remedial works on all units would be completed by mid-2027, noting that once all the units were remedied, the Morupule B 600MW plant would operate satisfactorily.
He also said an independent power producer, Jindal Energy Botswana, had been appointed to develop a 300MW net coal fired power plant and to supply electricity to Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) through a power purchase agreement for a period of 30 years.
He noted that engineering works had commenced, including site establishment and the establishment of interim construction power and water supply arrangements.
He said the anticipated commercial operation date for the plant was December 2026.
The minister also said the successful completion of the independent power producers would render the country self-sufficient in power and that it would be a net exporter of power to the region.
He said the project was anticipated to create around 5 000 jobs during construction and 1 000 long term jobs during operation and maintenance.
Mr Moagi also said the ministry had made significant progress in the development of solar power plants to increase the contribution of renewables into the country’s energy supply mix.
He noted that two small-scale grid connected solar projects in Bobonong and Shakawe were commissioned in October 2023 and were now in commercial operation.
He added that other ongoing solar projects were in Selebi Phikwe, Jwaneng and Letlhakane.
Mr Moagi also said the ministry was working towards the development of a 200MW concentrated solar – thermal power plant with energy storage for extended hours of operation, thereby providing for peak load generation.
He said the tender was floated in June 2023 and closes this month after being extended by three months.
He noted that BPC had secured 100 hectares of land in Maun and was currently requesting for an additional 150 hectares for the project from land authorities.
Mr Moagi, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ramotswa, said his ministry was working with private developers to implement coal bed methane pilot power generation projects at scalable capacities.
He noted that two coal bed methane pilot projects had been awarded to Tlou Energy and Sekaname.
He said Tlou Energy had advanced the construction works and that the first 2MW unit was expected to be operational next month, and that it included an 85km transmission line from Sandveld to Serowe.
Regarding power transmission projects, he said the construction and commissioning of a transmission substation to enhance the reliability of electricity supply in Tlokweng had been completed and that the new sub-station had been energised and commissioned.
He added that the construction and commissioning of a transmission sub-station to enhance the reliability of electricity supply in Mochudi and its environs had been completed and that the new sub-station had been energised and commissioned.
He noted that the project addressed the quality and reliability of supply in Mochudi and its environs, where demand had outstripped the installed distribution network capacity.
Mr Moagi also said the North West District transmission project scoping had been concluded while the Kgalagadi South transmission backbone, which connected the Kgalagadi South region was expected to be completed in December 2026.
dailynews
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
