Botswana (gets) Bad news from Eskom - Power supplies to be cut by more than 1/3 over next 4 years

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://free.financialmail.co.za/08/0328/features/dfeat.htm

28 March 2008

BOTSWANA

Bad news from Eskom

By Nicky Smith

If you think SA power users are in trouble, spare a thought for Botswana. Almost entirely dependent on Eskom, it has been told that its power supplies will be cut by more than a third over the next four years. This comes at a time when the country is facing a major investment boom in its mining industry.

Botswana's permanent secretary for mineral, energy & water resources, Akolang Tombale, says Botswana has too long relied on cheap power from SA.

But in recent negotiations with Eskom, its future supplies were slashed. "In peak times we consume 530 MW, already 60 MW more than we are currently receiving from Eskom. Under the new contract, Eskom will supply 410 MW this year, 250 MW in 2009 and 150 MW in 2010 and 2011," Tombale says.

Botswana's only power station generates a mere 120 MW and the new Eskom contract has added urgency to the construction of the planned 2 400 MW coal-fired Mmamabula power plant in eastern Botswana.

...

[Dead_Parrot]

1. I expect they'll buy solar panels.

There's only 1.6 million Botswanians. How hard can it be?