The Botswana Power Corp selected the Swedish consultant to undertake the work, which involves examining the power needs in 100 villages and proposing a suitable route alignment for the grid expansion. The scope of the engagement also includes supporting the client during the extension works for the sub-transmission lines.
In a statement, Sweco said the value of the contract was more than Euro2.1M (US$3.1M). The grid expansion is being funded by loans from Nordea and the Nordic Investment Bank.
Botswana is also working to expand its generation capacity, including some hydropower. It is also undertaking dam construction, such as its development of the 41m high Dikgatlhong dam to be built at the confluence of the Shashe and Tati rivers at Robelela in the Mnadinare area. The earthfill embankment dam is proposed to be 4.7km long and have a volume of 4.9M m3 and is expected to impound a reservoir of 62M m3.
Other dams planned for near to Dikgatlhong include the Lotsane (reservoir capacity of 6M m3), the Thuni (5M m3) and a cluster of smaller dam projects (totalling 4.4M m3), as noted by CIC Energy for its mining developments. Existing reservoirs include the Letsibogo (24M m3) and Shashe (23M m3).
