Jindal graduates first cohort of engineer trainees
Laone Choeunyane | Wednesday February 4, 2026 06:00
The event brought together senior government officials, members of the Indian diplomatic mission, industry figures, and company leadership, reflecting the growing emphasis on skills development as a pillar of Botswana’s industrial and energy ambitions.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Pius Mokgware, said developing human capital was central to building a resilient economy.
“Human capital development is not an abstract policy objective; it is about ensuring that citizens are equipped with skills that command value, dignity, and sustainable livelihoods,” Mokgware said.
He added that Botswana’s challenge was not only educating young people but ensuring a smooth transition into meaningful employment, progression, and long-term stability.
The Graduate Engineer Internship Programme was launched in 2025 and runs for five years through to 2029. It is designed to build technical capacity for Botswana’s energy sector. The first cohort of 20 graduates was drawn from local institutions, including the University of Botswana, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), New Era College, and Botho University.
As the first group completed the programme, a second cohort was inducted following a competitive selection process that included technical assessments, aptitude testing and panel interviews.
The two-year internship combines technical training with behavioural development and is delivered in partnership with India’s OPJ University and OPJ Institute of Power Technology. Alongside engineering modules, trainees are exposed to professional ethics, communication, workplace conduct, and safety standards.
Much of the training took place at the Jindal Mmamabula Energy Project, a 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant under construction and scheduled for commissioning in December 2026. Working on site gave trainees practical exposure to large-scale engineering operations, safety systems, and international construction standards.
Jindal Energy Botswana Country Director and Project Head, Neeraj Saxena, said the trainee programme was part of the company’s broader commitment to skills localisation and national development.
“This Graduate Engineers Trainee Programme is a practical expression of that commitment. “It is structured, deliberate, and aligned to national skills priorities through collaboration with Botswana’s universities and facilitation by the Human Resource Development Council,” Saxena said.
Turning to the wider Jindal Mmamabula Energy Project, Saxena said more than 300 local contractors and suppliers had been engaged, with over P720 million spent on citizen-owned businesses. Since November 2024, the project has created more than 2,300 jobs, with employment expected to peak at about 5,000 during construction and exceed 1,000 permanent positions once operational.
He added that more than P10 million had been committed to community initiatives focused on skills development, education, and wellbeing.
Graduates from the first cohort expressed that the shift from lecture halls to an active construction site was demanding but formative, strengthening their problem-solving ability, accountability, and confidence as young professionals.
India’s High Commissioner to Botswana, Bharath Kumar Kuthati, said the programme reflected the depth of cooperation between the two countries.
“India and Botswana enjoy longstanding and cordial bilateral relations, built on democratic principles, mutual trust and a shared belief in inclusive and sustainable development,” Kuthati said.
Backed by the Human Resource Development Council and local universities, the initiative supports Botswana’s localisation and economic diversification agenda, placing young engineers at the centre of the country’s long-term energy development.