Botswana energy storage operations

What is the storage capacity of strategic reserves in Botswana?

Botswana’s strategic reserves storage is also not yet up to international standard; storage capacity is approximately 18 days compared to the international standard strategic storage capacity of 90 days. Commercial buffer stock stands at less than five days of national consumption compared to the international standard of 14 days cover.

How can Botswana improve its energy supply?

This includes increasing the supply and reliability of Botswana’s energy supply, reducing the cost of domestic electricity, reducing and ideally removing the need for Botswana to import external energy and creating a revenue stream through the export of cleaner electricity and sale of gas. ..

How much solar energy does Botswana use?

Botswana has tremendous potential for solar energy utilization, with an annual Direct Normal Irradiation equivalent of 3,000 kWh/m²/a in most parts of the country, with an average insolation on a horizontal surface of 21 MJ/ m².

How is Botswana strengthening its exporting capacity?

To strengthen Botswana’s exporting capacity, the GoB is investing in national and regional grid infrastructure, as well as refurbishment of general transmission infrastructure. Botswana Power Corporation (BPC)’s rural electrification program is still ongoing, and this covers new connections and expansion in some villages.

Where does Botswana get its power?

In 2023, BPC agreed to procure up to 600 MW of power generation from a yet-to-be-built coal-fired power station. Additionally, Botswana imports the bulk of its power from South African utility Eskom, and the rest from Nampower (Namibia), Zesco (Zambia), and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), to make up for any production shortfalls.

Does Botswana have a good electricity supply?

According to Statistics Botswana, local electricity generation and distribution has showed a slight improvement, increasing by 10.2 percent from 807,943 MWh during the fourth quarter of 2022 to 890,655 MWh during the first quarter of 2023. The increase was attributable to the performance improvement of Morupule A and B power stations.