State of Nation Address - today. Relevant part on CBM8 Nov 2021 18:09
Mister Speaker, only 60 percent of the national electricity demand is being met from domestic generation. The remaining 40 percent is imported from the Southern African Power Pool. To address power deficit, remediation of Morupule B Power Station is ongoing and expected to meet the demand of 600 Mega Watts by 2024.
67. The first phase of the North West Transmission Grid Connection (NWTGC) which I launched early this year was completed on time and within the allocated budget of Two Billion Three Hundred and Fifty Five Million Pula (P2.355Billion). The Grid will expand the electrification of the Okavango area and reduce dependency on neighbouring countries. Once Mohembo Bridge is complete, the Grid will provide power supply to villages beyond the Okavango River.
68. The construction of Phase 2 of this project, which will commence in the next financial year, will connect Kasane to Phokoje Substation, in Selebi Phikwe via Dukwi. It will further advance the development of the Agricultural Special Economic Zone in the Pandamatenga area. It will also support the Government’s priority project of water pumping from the Zambezi River to other parts of the country.
69. Since 2019, significant progress has been made in the development of a sustainable new energy mix. The energy mix comprises renewable energy sources and low carbon power generation sources, in addition to clean coal based generation. Private sector investors have been identified for the development of a 50 Megawatts grid scale solar Photovoltaic (PV) plant in Selebi Phikwe and six (6) grid tied solar PV plants in Shakawe, Bobonong, Lobatse, Molepolole, Maun and Ghanzi, with a combined capacity of 16 Megawatts.
70. The Planned Clean Energy Initiatives include the development of Coal Bed Methane and wind based generation power plants. In November 2020, Government launched the Solar Rooftop Programme, which allows customers to self-generate electricity through solar PV for own consumption and selling excess to the national grid.
To date, the Botswana Power Corporation has approved fifty seven (57) applications. Twenty one (21) applications were for commercial purposes, while thirty six (36) were for household use, both producing about two thousand (2000) kilowatts.
71. With respect to ICT infrastructure, optical fibre networks have been connected to five thousand six hundred and eighty (5 680) of the sixteen thousand (16 000) households targeted in Gaborone. The remaining households will be completed by the end of the 2021/22 financial year. This connectivity will enhance remote working, electronic learning, facilitate business online and stimulate the creation of small industries operating from homes.
72. Mister Speaker, all these infrastructural developments are a demonstration of our commitment to ease of doing business and Digitilisation of the economy.
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