The country’s power stations raised their output by 39.5% in the first quarter of the year, when compared to the same period last year, reaching the third highest point in a decade on an index that measures electricity generation.
Figures released by Statistics Botswana recently indicate that national electricity production reached 890,655-megawatt hours (MWh) in the first three months of the year, compared to 638,501MWh over the corresponding period last year.
The country experienced short-lived supply challenges in the second quarter of the year due to transmission faults on a key line in the northeast.
Researchers at Statistics Botswana said the increase in the first quarter was mainly on account of the improvement of Morupule A and B power stations. Morupule A has a nameplate capacity of 120MW, while Morupule B is rated 600MW.
However, neither has operated at full capacity in recent years, due to ageing and a renovation at Morupule A and a phased four-year overhaul at Morupule B.
The improved generation in the first quarter was also noted in a 25.1% drop in electricity imports in the first quarter of 2023 when compared to the same period in 2022.
Statisticians said the general downward trend in imports indicates that the country’s continued effort to generate adequate electricity to meet domestic demand, has led to the decreased reliance on electricity imports.
Over the years, imports have been one of the major causes of running operational losses at the Botswana Power Corporation, with the purchases necessitated by the fact that Morupule A and B have performed below expectations.
