Botswana 'to get energy boost'

3 November 2009

The approval of several loans towards a $1.4 billion (£859 million) power station in Botswana is expected to bring the country from being dependent on foreign power suppliers to self-sufficiency.

Some €153 million is to come from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the rest from China's ICBC Standard Bank, the government and the World Bank.

The construction of the Morupule B power station and related transmission infrastructure is intended to allow Botswana to achieve independence from foreign imports by 2013 and become a net energy exporter by 2014.

AfDB asserted the project will "support economic growth and reduce poverty".

The country has recently opened up to development finance institutions after traditional donors began to stem their aid.

AfDB approved its largest ever grant to the country in June 2009 in the form of a $1.5 billion Economic Diversification Support loan.

In related news, Reuters South Africa recently reported Botswana Power Corporation had agreed to invest $8 million in the rehabilitation of Bulawayo power station.

Category: Energy