26 Mar 2025

Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) is working round the clock to normalise power supply after experiencing electricity generation challenges last week at Morupule B power station, the country’s main power supplier.

The four-unit coal powered station, which produces more than 400MW at full capacity, currently operates with only one unit.

 This one unit when combined with three units at Morupule A, produce 170MW of baseload power.

“At present, three units at Morupule A and one unit at Morupule B are operational, providing a combined output of 170MW of baseload power,” BPC’s marketing and communications manager, Ms Kefilwe Kebafetotse confirmed in an interview.

To augment the shortfall, she said 55MW was supplied by solar PV plants during the day as well as 160MW from the two diesel-based emergency generation facilities in Orapa and Matshelagadi, adding that all these were against a national demand of 640MW during peak hours and 440MW off-peak.

Even with these interventions to augment supply, Ms Kebafetotse said the current electricity demand exceeded available supply, compelling the corporation to implement load management activities to balance supply and demand in order to maintain grid stability and prevent the risk of a grid collapse or blackout.

Currently, BPC is working on restoration of the three dysfunctional units at Morupule B power station with supply situation expected to improve in June when the three units would be back in service.

“In the mean-time, load management activities will continue until further notice,” said Ms Kebafetotse.

She explained that the rotational power distribution schedule followed by BPC was guided by patterns of electricity supply and demand with priority given to essential services such as hospitals, security facilities, economic activities and water supply systems, to minimise disruptions.

“During periods of extreme system constraints, when electricity demand surpasses available supply beyond initial projections, load management may be extended to additional areas not initially included in the schedule,” she said.

Meanwhile, she advised customers to switch off appliances when without power, until it was restored.

Finally, Ms Kebafetotse explained that several interventions were being implemented by the corporation to ensure stability of power supply in the short and long term.

BPC, she said had started implementing the Integrated Resource Plan with some Independent Power Producer plants expected to come online between end of 2025 and early 2027. ENDS