Govt considers “new Morupule” as old faults reappear
Mbongeni Mguni | Monday April 7, 2025 12:58
The new power station, should it go ahead, will be required to be built within 18 and 24 months, Minerals and Energy minister, Bogolo Kenewendo, told legislators on Tuesday.
“Botswana Power Corporation continues to pursue the Morupule B defects remediation project, notwithstanding challenges being experienced with the first unit to be remediated,” she said. “As a mitigation measure, the Ministry will consider other base load generation options to avert a power crisis should the Morupule B remedial works not yield the intended objectives. “In this regard, the government is considering a brownfield 615MW base load coal-fired power plant with an implementation timeline of 18 to 24 months.”
Brownfield implies that the new power plant would be built adjacent to existing coal-fired generation, which points to Morupule B and the older Morupule A. The new plant, if built, will likely take the shape of additional units at the existing Morupule B, using the coal feedstock from the nearby Morupule Coal Mine.
While the minister did not provide details, it is expected that government would contract out the new plant, with the contractor required to deliver within the set time period.
The latest developments come in the midst of a difficult period for the country’s electricity supply, as the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) now expects the ongoing load management programme to last into April.
The load management programme, under which the BPC rotates power cuts across the country’s various areas, kicked off at the weekend, after technical challenges at Morupule B.
The major remedial works, estimated to cost $1.2 billion, are covered by the defects notification period, meaning they are paid for by Morupule B’s original contractor. Under the repair programme, each unit of the four units at Morupule B is taken down for at least a year and taken through a major overhaul.
The remedial work began in 2019 and was originally due complete by 2013, before being extended to January 2025. On Tuesday, Kenewendo told Parliament the remedial works were due complete by 2027.
In the meantime, the country’s electricity supply is precarious, with the weaker generation at Morupule B somewhat helped by solar and diesel plants as well as limited regional imports.
Industry analysts urged government to hive off Morupule B, as the power station has never operated at full capacity since its commissioning in 2012. Morupule B is the country’s main baseload plant, designed to provide the bulk of the peak 680MW demand. However, the plant has experienced faults, particularly around its Fluidised Bed Heat Exchangers, which have resulted in numerous breakdowns.
“If you have a vehicle that constantly suffers break downs each year, costing more and more to repair, what do you do,” an industry analyst told Mmegi on condition of anonymity. “Government should sell that plant back to the Chinese or even sell it for a minimal amount, instead of throwing more money at it. “In the meantime, we can wait for Jindal and also build the other one. “The money that has been spent repairing Morupule B could build another one. “It’s a tiring song.”
Jindal Africa is developing 600MW of coal-fired power plants at its Mmamabula Energy Complex near Mookane, after scooping a December 2022 contract from government. Jindal’s plant is due to be commissioned in 2027.
BPC spokesperson, Kefilwe Kebafetotse, told Mmegi yesterday that the current faults were the result of the temporary loss of some units at the Morupule, with expedited work ongoing to return them to service.
According to Kebafetotse, at Morupule B: - Unit 1- is in service and part of the ongoing electricity generation - Unit 2- undergoing statutory maintenance and expected back to service by mid-April 2025 - Unit 3- undergoing remedial works for 11 months since November 2024 - Unit 4- undergoing repairs and expected back in service first week of April 2025
At present three units at Morupule A, one unit at Morupule B, and Solar PV plants are in operation. Kebafetotse said all combined, electricity generated is at 380MW including 55MW from solar PV plants during the day and 160MW from the two diesel-based emergency generation facilities in Orapa and Matshelagabedi.
“This is against a national electricity demand of 640MW during peak hours and 440MW off-peak. “The power supply constraint is further exacerbated by limited power imports due to inadequate generation capacity in the region. “However, BPC is using its best endeavours to secure power imports from the Southern African Power Pool to augment the deficit from local demand,” she said.
Kebafetotse added that the load management programme is designed to balance electricity supply and demand, maintain grid stability and prevent the risk of a grid collapse/blackout.
“BPC is actively working to restore the units currently under maintenance at Morupule B Power Station. “The power supply situation is expected to improve progressively as these units are brought back into operation. “Stability is anticipated by June 2025, with three units expected to be fully operational at Morupule B, barring any unforeseen circumstances,” she said.