- Bloomberg reports that Botswana will meet with South Africa’s electricity ministry this week to negotiate 200MW of supply.
Botswana relies on the coal fired 600 MW Morupule B facility to meet its energy demand of around 640WM but the power station regularly incurs breakdowns, causing blackouts in the country. Imports from South Africa’s state-owned power company fills the shortfall, but Eskom has raised tariffs significantly since facing their own energy crisis.
Speaking to lawmakers ahead of the meeting on Thursday, Botswana’s Energy Minister, Bogolo Kenewendo, said that Botswana’s debt to Eskom has risen to P2.6-billion. She added that the South African utility is pushing for settlement ahead of the talks.
Kenewendo also confirmed that Botswana will be issuing a tender for 1.5 GW renewable energy capacity on Friday and that her government is working on a rescue plan for the Botswana Power Corporation that involves debt restructuring.
Scatec recently commissioned 60MW of a 120MW solar project in Botswana. Read more
Read more on Botswana’s energy sector HERE
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
