The Ministry of Minerals and Energy announced yesterday that high-level discussions between Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Bogolo Kenewendo, and South Africa’s Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, have yielded positive results. A communique from the Ministry confirmed that the discussions were successful and have led to an agreement in principle regarding a proposal for a firm and reliable power supply to Botswana on favorable terms.
Although the finer details of the agreement are still being finalized, both parties have committed to completing the agreement within the next two weeks. This deal comes at a critical time, as Botswana has been grappling with electricity shortages exacerbated by recent price hikes from South Africa’s power utility, Eskom. Eskom raised the price of electricity sold to Botswana by a significant 166%, a move that Botswana’s Energy Minister Kenewendo stated would not be sustainable for the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC).
This new agreement is seen as a potential solution to the mounting energy challenges. In addition to this deal, the recent return of a unit at the Morupule B Power Station is expected to further improve electricity generation capacity, contributing to a more stable power supply across the country and helping to reduce the frequency of load shedding.
These developments are a positive step forward in mitigating the energy crisis and ensuring that Botswana has a reliable energy supply moving forward. With Eskom previously threatening to cut supply due to mounting debts nearing 3 billion Pula, the successful negotiations mark a significant achievement for both governments as they work together to secure energy security for Botswana.
