Botswana’s costly reliance on imported electricity could ease this year, thanks to a boost in power generated locally during the first quarter of 2026.
For years, the country’s heavy dependence on power imports, largely driven by ongoing issues at the Morupule B Power Plant, has pushed Botswana’s import bill to steep heights. In 2024, the nation spent more than P1.7 billion on electricity imports and was projected to shell out around P2.32 billion in the latter half of the 2025/2026 financial year. But recent data suggests that this trend may be reversing as local power generation ramps up.
Electricity production from Botswana’s own power stations surged by 379,872 MWh, or 72.8 percent, rising from 522,031 MWh in the first quarter of 2025 to 901,903 MWh in the same period this year. Comparing quarter to quarter, local generation climbed 20 percent; from 751,514 MWh in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 901,903 MWh in the first quarter of 2026.
“This increase was primarily attributed to higher output from both Morupule A and B Power plants alongside increasing output from the solar plants,” said Statistics Botswana management. “The record-breaking local generation in the first quarter of 2026 (901,903 units) confirms that solar infrastructure is now performing at scale, providing a stable alternative to diesel-fueled power plants.”
During this period, Morupule A and B power stations accounted for a commanding 90.8 percent of Botswana’s locally generated electricity. The Orapa emergency power plant contributed a modest 1.8 percent to the national grid, while the Orapa and Matshelagabedi emergency diesel plants combined for just 0.1 percent (509.5 MWh). Solar power stations supplied 9.1 percent (82,520 MWh) of the total.
The rise in solar output underscores Botswana’s expanding commitment to renewable energy, said Statistician General Dr. Khaufelo Raymond Lekobane and his team. They noted that solar plants in Bobonong, Phakalane, Shakawe, and Mmadinare highlight ongoing efforts to diversify the country’s energy mix and promote sustainability in electricity generation.
As local production climbed, power imports fell by 207,374 MWh, a 29.8 percent drop, in the first quarter of 2026. South Africa’s Eskom remained the main supplier, accounting for 80.9 percent (178,274 MWh) of imported power. Eskom’s imports to Botswana declined 40.1 percent from 297,687 MWh in the first quarter of 2025 to 178,274 MWh this year. Meanwhile, imports from the Southern African Power Pool plummeted 60.7 percent, from 43,713 MWh to 17,188 MWh.
Statistics Botswana credited the sharp decline in imports directly to the surge in domestic generation. The boost in solar power allowed Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) to replace costly imports from the Southern African Power Pool and Eskom with more affordable, locally produced renewable energy.
The Ministry of Minerals and Energy recently reported significant breakthroughs in renewable energy development, particularly solar photovoltaic capacity. According to the ministry, 104 MW of grid-connected solar PV is now commercially operational. After bringing the Bobonong, Phakalane, Shakawe, and Mmadinare plants online, several large projects are slated to begin commercial production this July, including the 100 MW Jwaneng Solar Power Project and 4 MW projects in Ghanzi and Lobatse.
Looking ahead, the ministry anticipates further improvements in local supply when the 600 MW coal-fired Independent Power Producer plant at Mmamabula begins commercial operation. The first phase is expected to deliver 300 MW by the first quarter of 2027, with the remaining 300 MW coming online in 2028.