Construction Of 600 Mw Morupule B Power Station Begins
Monday, February 22, 2010
Speaking at the official ground breaking ceremony of the power plant on Friday, Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Ponatshego Kedikilwe said the project, which he hopes contractor China National Electric Equipment Corporation (CNEEC) will finish with no time or cost over runs, is a medium term solution to the country power supply-demand mismatch.
Currently, the country which imports 80 percent of its power needs, only has one power station, the existing Morupule power station which was commissioned 24 years ago and produces only 132MW.
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...