BPC weighs options to revive Lesedi project
Pauline Dikuelo | Tuesday September 27, 2016 18:00
Last year, Lesedi Project was placed under liquidation and the franchising business model was re-called for review after it failed to generate profits and sustain itself.
Speaking in an interview with Mmegi Business, the corporation’s manager, marketing and communications, Dineo Seleke said to accommodate a smooth transition, the liquidation of Lesedi is currently ongoing.
“To revive the BPC Lesedi aligned operations, a study is being conducted for informed decision-making regarding off-grid solutions,” she said.
Last year, the corporation decided to revamp the whole of the project after realising that the model was not effective. The project’s model was revised to devise a more sustainable one, which will focus on renewable energy after realising that the cost of implementation was very high while the returns were low.
BPC said the uptake was very slow and not affordable to a common Motswana living in the village despite that maintaining and cost of setting up a renewable energy is high.
However, BPC Lesedi Project’s previous franchising business model delivered off-grid services in Gaborone, Maun and Mahalapye regions. A rechargeable power station was established in Lentsweletau where people would recharge.
At the end of March 2013, BPC Lesedi Project was supplying and servicing 600 households with solar home systems with a total installed capacity of 100kw.
As part of its retail business, BPC franchises have sold to the rural market 475 efficient cooking wood stoves, 1,200 rechargeable lanterns, 75 heat retention bags (hot bags) and 10 bush low-pressure solar geysers.
They made significant strides in the utilisation of renewable energies as 21 poultry houses, piggery project at Boatelo, seven tourism facilities, five clinics, a 12kw solar or biogas hybrid mini-grid is under construction in Sekhutlane and a sustainable village concept project to facilitate power uptake through development of economic activities in newly electrified village in Sekhutlane.
Even though solar energy is regarded as the next option to the energy power generation, it is perceived to be more expensive, compared to the coal energy power generation, as renewable running costs are very high. Its production also heavily relies on climatic conditions.