Headway in Tshele Hills oil storage project
Pauline Dikuelo | Friday May 26, 2017 15:12
According to Botswana Oil Limited’s (BOL) chief executive officer, Willie Mokgatlhe construction of the access road and the road over the rail bridge is now complete.
“So far construction of the access road and the road over the rail bridge is complete. Other aspects of the project including the construction of the tank farm and associated works as well as housing and buildings has temporarily been put on hold as funding for these projects is still being sourced. It is anticipated that construction would commence in the near future,” he said.
The project is being implemented by the Department of Energy in the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security.
The project, which has been on the pipeline for sometime, initially was divided into two phases, which comprised the construction of the tank farm and staff housing while the second phase would include infrastructure including power connection, fencing, water and road as well as rail spur.
Mokgatlhe further said the Francistown expansion, which aims to deliver an additional 60 million litres storage is underway as BOL appointed an engineering procurement construction management (EPCM) contractor in August last year.
He said to date the concept designs have been completed and work is progressing on the detailed engineering designs adding that the scheduled completion date for the depot is November 2018. In addition, he said the Gantsi project is yet to commence as the land for the planned depot has already been identified.
“Engagements with the National Oil Company of Namibia and prospective investors on coastal storage are ongoing. BOL is also considering securing coastal storage facilities in Mozambique and South Africa,” he said.
Late last year BOL revealed that they are in discussions with the National Oil Company of Namibia over a potential joint development of coastal storage facilities in Walvis Bay.
He said this is part of their supply strategy, which includes initiatives that will see the development and securing of storage facilities inland and at coastal areas.
He said in the interim, BOL has stored petroleum products in Matola, Mozambique as part of security of supply and the development of alternative routes and source.