Wanetsha Mosinyi
30 January 2008
A survey by Botswana Power Corporation on power demand in the next five years has shown that Tati Nickel Mines could surpass BCL on power consumption.
The survey shows that by 2009/10, the power consumption at peak load from Tati Nickel would have doubled amid the power crisis that has engulfed the country. Currently at peak load, the mines use 39 mega watts (MW) of power and next year they will require 81 MW. Tati Nickel owns Phoenix and Selkirk mines in the north east of Francistown near Matsiloje.This will see Tati become the largest power consumer in the country, surpassing BCL, which consumes 65 MW for its underground mining and smelting. The power demand at Tati Nickel is on the increase due to the ongoing construction of the Activox project adjacent to Phoenix Mine.
BPC has already contracted a South African company to connect a power grid from Pokoje Station near Selibe-Phikwe to the Activox refinery. Tati Nickel is also to start open-pit mining at Selkirk by 2010.
Addressing a media briefing recently, BPC's Director of Transmission, Edward Rugoyi, said by that period until 2011, the power utility has projected that Tati Nickel will require 97 MW. The demand will further increase to 102 MW in 2011/12 and reach 113 MW by 2012/13.
The power demand is projected to also increase significantly at other mines like Debswana's Orapa. The mine currently requires 44 MW at peak load, and by 2012/13, the demand will be at 93 MW. Debswana's Jwaneng Mine consumes 41 MW and it is projected to consume 77 MW by 2012/13.
Botswana Ash uses 14 MW of power while other upcoming mines like African Copper's Mowana Mine already uses 7 MW during construction.
The total consumption of all the mines at peak load currently stands at 216 MW and by 2012/13 it will be at 390 MW.
BPC has attributed its shortsightedness of the looming power shortage to the resurgence on mining in the country.
Rugoyi said the mining projects might change in coming years, either by increasing or decreasing, hence the demand might change.
However, the mining activities are unlikely to decrease as more discoveries are announced almost every month. Discovery Metals has reported more copper deposits at its Maun and Dikoloti projects.
Diamonex is scheduled to start diamond production this year at Lerala. African Diamonds has also reported more discoveries at its AK6 Project near Orapa; mining is scheduled for the last quarter of 2009.
In the period until 2012/13, Debswana has also planned to construct a third plant at Orapa and start underground mining at Jwaneng Mine.
Botswana imports most of its power from Eskom. The current agreement gives provision for Eskom to reduce supply when South Africa experiences power shortages.Eskom has already reduced supply to 150 MW from 450 MW. This agreement will see Botswana getting only150 MW from Eskom by 2011.
BPC has pinned its hopes on the expansion of Morupule, which will be completed by 2010/11, and on the Mmamabula Project. Mmamabula has however been further delayed; the first unit of the power plant is scheduled for late 2012 or early 2013.
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