The general public including the business sector should be rest assured of few power outages as Botswana’s power utility moves to remedy incessant power outages.
The country has been plagued with power outages following neighbouring South Africa’s cut of energy with Morupule B power station not operate at full throttle. Morupule B project is designed to increase power output.
But thanks to its completion, Morupule B will ensure an end to the sporadic outages for the business community.
“Since July 28th you could bear testimony that power outages have been low. We started with 2 units then 3 units and soon all units will be available and mission completed,” said BPC Chief Executive Officer Jacob Raleru at the parastatal’s ‘Wellness Day’ in Palapye.
Matshelagabedi and Orapa power stations, including South Africa’s Eskom, in the meantime came to the rescue as Morupule B failed to assist the old Morupule A generate enough power.
“There is however a light at the end of the tunnel and the general public should be reassured of few outages,” Raleru said, falling short of ascertaining Botswana would no longer experience outages.
Contracted to China National Electric Equipment Corporation, the P7.9 billion Morupule B project could not be completed in time in October 2012 since it was commissioned in 2008. The delay caused outages as Morupule A could not meet the demand, threatening business and investor confidence.
Meanwhile BPC is operating at a loss. Although the audit has not been publicly announced, Raleru said indications are that the institution revenues were dwindling.
“We are doing anything possible to avert the situation. We will as the board meet with the government to see the Corporation gets back on its feet,” he said, adding such activities like “Wellness Day” were imperative for BPC’s survival and its workforce.
“A healthy workforce is a healthy organization,” Raleru said.BPC workers took to the gym grounds to make some acrobatics exercises, play football and engaged on a tug of war combat. They also checked on their health status, examining such prevalent diseases like diabetes, cholesterol and other diet related diseases.
