Orapa power Station set for grand launch

MBONGENI MGUNI
Staff Writer | Monday May 2, 2011 00:00

 

After several false starts and last-minute technical fine-tuning, the much-anticipated plant is due to be unveiled by Acting Vice President and Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Minister, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, on Thursday.

The power station's launch is timely, coming as it does at the beginning of winter, when national peak power demand is expected to easily and regularly top the current 500 megawatts (MW). On Friday, Debswana officials revealed that at Thursday's launch, the power station would be handed over to the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), which will operate and maintain the P850-million diesel and gas-powered turbine facility.

The power station's key role lies in that it is a peaking plant that the BPC can tap into as and when needed. The power plant will thus mitigate load shedding, with its output being used to power Debswana and the nation at large. By acting as a peaking plant, the station's power will kick in whenever national demand rises above the BPC's firm supplies, which currently comprise Morupule Power Station, as well as regional imports.

'The completion of the turbine power plant is a milestone for Debswana, as it is expected to contribute positively towards mitigating power shortage in Botswana. 'Debswana is excited to have invested in this project, which (not only) minimises any impact on its business which might arise from shortage of electricity supply in Botswana, but also beneÞts the nation at large,' said Debswana Group Public and Corporate Affairs Manager, Esther Kanaimba-Senai.

She said the facility was implemented in close consultation with the BPC and government, with the two 45 MW turbines designed and manufactured in the USA by General Electric.  The Monitor recently learnt that contractors roped in to build a fuel farm to supply the turbines had completed their assignment, paving way for the power station's commissioning.

At full operation, the two turbines will consume 292, 000 litres of fuel for the eight hours per day that the plant will run. The BPC plans to convert the power station to gas-fired as soon as possible, in order to shave about 60 percent off operational costs. Government and Debswana powered the Orapa station in order to address the country's immediate power needs, as demand continued to outstrip supply.