13 Oct 2024

The commissioning of the new Francistown depot is set to enhance the security of petroleum product supplies in Botswana, says Botswana Oil Limited (BOL) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Meshack Tshekedi.

Mr Tshekedi said this at the launch of the Francistown depot gantry. He emphasised that Botswana relied entirely on imports for its petroleum needs, as the country currently did not produce any petroleum products.

Recognising the critical importance of securing petroleum supplies, the government established a strategic petroleum reserve programme in 1979, resulting in the construction of two storage depots.

The Gaborone depot is capable of holding 25 million litres, while the Francistown facility has a larger capacity of 38 million litres.  Mr Tshekedi explained that the objective was to maintain strategic reserves that could sustain the country for 60 to 90 days without any additional supplies.

He highlighted that BOL took control of the Gaborone depot following upgrades in 2017, with the Francistown depot being added to their operations in 2021.

Mr Tshekedi noted that the Francistown facility was crucial for supplying the north-eastern region of Botswana, which accounted for approximately 38 per cent of the nation’s total petroleum demand.

The expansion of the Francistown depot aims to accommodate fluctuations in inventory and prepare for unanticipated shipment delays and long-term supply disruptions. Francistown Mayor Mr Godisang Radisigo praised the petroleum project for aligning with the city’s Vision 2022 strategy, which sought to transform Francistown and encourage partnerships for investment and development.

He highlighted that the strategy was built on effective investment networking, creating an economically vibrant, safe, and innovative city.

Mr Radisigo emphasised that the partnership with Botswana Oil was based on shared goals for the development and transformation of Francistown.

He noted the project’s potential to empower citizens economically and foster youth entrepreneurship within the city and the broader northern region. Ends