After President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an intention to import electricity from neighbouring countries to supplement South Africa’s constrained power supply, Botswana wants South Africa to even buy more from it.
Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) wants Eskom to buy its off-peak generated power since electricity can’t be stored on any scale and fluctuation can put strain on generators.
“BPC has therefore started engaging Eskom to purchase the excess electricity supply generated during off-peak times (weekends) in order to protect our plants against load management fluctuations and also to ensure that surplus electricity has a secured market,” BPC said in a statement.
On Monday night, Ramaphosa said, “Neighbouring countries in southern Africa, such as Botswana and Zambia, have more electricity capacity than they require for their economies. Eskom will now import power from these countries through the southern African power pool arrangement.”
Responding to Ramaphosa’s measures, BPC said it was “alive to the announcement made by the president of the Republic of South Africa …that Eskom will import power from Botswana”.
Through the Maduo26 strategy, a five-year plan launched last year, Botswana intends to achieve its vision of becoming “a regional benchmark in electricity supply” by 2026.
So far, BPC said, it has been meeting local energy needs during off-peak hours. It is therefore “able to export excess power to the region”.- new24
