BPC turnaround hinges on govt political will

After spending over P2 billion to import power and generate electricity from power peaking plants in 2013, the coming on stream of the full 600 MW from Morupule B power station will be crucial in the turnaround of the parastatal's operations and finances.
After spending over P2 billion to import power and generate electricity from power peaking plants in 2013, the coming on stream of the full 600 MW from Morupule B power station will be crucial in the turnaround of the parastatal's operations and finances.

The ambitious plans of the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) to overturn its present P1.25 billion loss into a profit in the next three years will largely depend on government pumping further subsidies into the parastatal. Moreover, Business Week has leant, electricity tariffs will need to be adjusted significantly to bolster the business.

These plans include the take over by manage­ment contactor, Electricity Supply Board Inter­national (EASBI) from June.

The contractor is mandated with the task of turning around the troubled parastatal dogged by losses, operational inefficiencies and supply gaps into a high performance and profitable or­ganisation by 2018.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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