Online Reporter
Government officials from Botswana will meet with South Africa’s electricity ministry this week after power-import costs more than doubled, worsening a supply crisis.
Breakdowns at Botswana’s main plant, the 600-megawatt Morupule B facility, have caused blackouts that last as many as four hours. South Africa’s state-owned power company fills the shortfall, but Eskom has raised tariffs significantly, Botswana’s energy minister, Bogolo Kenewendo, told lawmakers Monday.
Botswana’s debt to Eskom has risen to 2.6 billion pula (US$189,5 million), with the South African utility pushing for settlement ahead of the talks that will take place Thursday, Kenewendo said.
Botswana wants to secure 200 megawatts of supply from South Africa, and it’s issuing a tender for 1,5 gigawatts in renewable energy on Friday.
It’s also putting together a rescue plan for the Botswana Power Corporation that involves debt restructuring, she said.
Botswana’s peak demand is about 640 megawatts, with generation coming from one unit at Morupule B, as well as diesel plants and a new 50-megawatt solar installation. – Bloomberg
