What is Botswana's energy policy?

Botswana’s energy policy is anchored on three key aspects – increasing access to electricity through the Rural Electrification Project, security, and stabilization of the power supply, and onboarding Independent Power Producers, especially within the Solar PV sector (BPC 2020).

Can Botswana generate enough solar power?

With an annual Direct Normal Irradiation of 3000 kWh/m 2 /a, Botswana has a huge potential to generate enough solar power to meet its domestic demand and export to neighboring countries (International Trade Administration 2021). Overall, the country gets more than 3200 hours of sunshine per year.

What is the Botswana Power Corporation doing?

The Botswana Power Corporation is undertaking key projects that will expand the power grid and stabilize the power supply. The BPC has laid out coherent plans to improve access to electricity and to diversify the energy mix.

Does Botswana have oil reserves?

While Botswana does not have any definitive oil reserves, the country has expanded oil exploration efforts. Licenses now allow for oil and gas exploration in the Okavango Delta. The company behind the project, ReconAfrica, has indicated the potential oil and gas deposits in a formation known as the Kavango Basin (Barbee and Neme 2021).

How much power does Botswana generate a year?

There are two diesel operating stations – Orapa and Matshelagabedi, which serve the primary function of emergency power supply or when the Morupule plants are undergoing planned maintenance (BPC 2020) (Fig. 2). Taking a deeper look at historical power generation figures, Botswana’s annual generation has plateaued around the 3700–4000 GWh range.

Should Botswana import electricity from South Africa?

Since the Union of South Africa ran a highly developed power sector with surplus power, there was a consensus to avoid developing Botswana’s domestic resources further and instead import the electricity, just like many other commodities (Kanduza 2009, p. 40).