Botswana continues to import substantial amount of electricity even when billions of Pula have been spent on projects to self-generate. The latest data by Statistics Botswana shows that the country, which is celebrating its 50th independence anniversary this year, has not been so independent in power generation. The electricity generation and distribution Stats Briefs for the second quarter of 2016 by the government’s statistics body revealed that although on quarter-on-quarter the generation rose, it declined on a yearly basis.
The stats body noted that during the second quarter of 2016, the index of electricity generation stood at 115.7, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 22.8% when compared to 149.9 recorded during the corresponding quarter of 2015 .“The decrease was a result of the limited use of the emergency power plants,” it said.
On the other hand, quarter-on-quarter index of electricity generation rose by 10.0% when the period under review was compared to the preceding quarter. “The increase was mainly driven by the extensive use of Morupule B Power plant during the period under review, particularly during the month of June 2016,” Statistics Botswana added.
According to the agency, during the second quarter of 2016, the volume of imported electricity amounted to 468, 852 MWH, when compared to 376, 248 MWH recorded during the same quarter in 2015, registering a 24.6% (92, 604 MWH) increase.
The quarter – on – quarter comparison of the volume of imported electricity shows a decrease of 10.5% (54, 884 MWH), from 523, 736 MWH during the first quarter of 2016 to 468, 852 MWH registered during the current quarter. “The decrease in imported electricity for the period under review may be attributable to improvements in local generation or the foreign supplies not being able to meet our demands.”
Distribution of Electricity
Statistics Botswana also revealed that the physical volume of electricity distributed from 2005 to the second quarter of 2016. Comparison of electricity distributed during the reference period and the first quarter of 2016 depicts a decrease of 1.3% (12, 324 MWH), from 967, 364 MWH in the first quarter to 955, 040 MWH distributed during the second quarter of 2016.
Equally, the year-on-year comparison of electricity distribution shows a decrease of 5.1% (51, 184 MWH), from 1, 006, 224 MWH during the second quarter of 2015 to 955, 040 MWH during the quarter under review. It has been revealed that the electricity generated locally contributed 50.9 percent to electricity distributed during the second quarter of 2016 as compared to 62.6 percent of electricity distributed during the corresponding quarter in 2015.
