The year the power crisis ends: 2019 :: Mmegi Online

To a full and largely sceptical conference room on Tuesday, Minerals, Energy and Water Resources minister, Kitso Mokaila announced 2019 as the year in which Botswana will become self-sufficient in electricity.

According to Mokaila, in four years’ time, Botswana will be generating 1,200MW against a demand of 900MW. At this point, the country will be a net exporter of power into the region, opening up a new forex-spinning industry.

This week, government also revealed that electricity generation for domestic consumption has been pegged at 1,200MW, meaning whatever supply is coming out of Independent Power Producers will be for export. Here’s how government intends to push domestic generation to 1,200 within three years: A two year programme of intensive repairs to get the 600MW Morupule B power station to function at optimum capacity while ensuring the in-built 30 year lifespan.

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