- – As MP decries persistent power interruptions affecting Chobe Enclave West
Electricity demand in Chobe Enclave West has consistently exceeded the area’s available supply capacity, with demand surpassing 700 kVA against a contracted supply capacity of 550 kVA.
Minerals and Energy minister, Bogolo Kenewendo revealed this in Parliament on Friday, August 21, 2026, in response to a question from Chobe Member of Parliament, Simasiku Mapulanga on persistent power interruptions affecting Chobe Enclave West.
According to the minister, the affected communities receive electricity from Namibia through the Ngoma supply point, with interruptions being more pronounced during morning and evening peak periods.
She said the main cause of the interruptions is insufficient available supply capacity relative to demand.
“When demand exceeds the safe operating limit, protection systems automatically interrupt supply to prevent network damage,” Kenewendo said.
The repeated interruption and restoration of electricity may also result in temporary voltage fluctuations experienced by customers as power surges.
The minister stressed that the primary challenge is therefore supply capacity, rather than the quality of imported electricity or the general condition of the distribution network.
Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) is engaging NamPower on the technical and financial requirements to increase electricity supply capacity at the Ngoma supply point from 550 kVA to 1,000 kVA. In the meantime, BPC is monitoring demand, particularly during morning and evening peak periods, and managing supply to prevent overloading.
Kenewendo said new connections are also being managed within the available capacity pending the increase in supply capacity.
However, no implementation timeframe has yet been confirmed for the increase to 1,000 kVA.
According to the minister, the timeframe will be confirmed once the necessary technical assessments, commercial negotiations and approvals have been completed.
Despite the persistent interruptions, Kenewendo said the electricity infrastructure supplying the affected communities is generally in good condition and is routinely maintained by BPC. The network was constructed between 2001 and 2002 and commissioned in 2003.
The minister said the challenge in Chobe Enclave West is therefore not primarily the condition of the infrastructure, but that available supply capacity has been overtaken by growing demand.
Government intends to connect the affected Chobe Enclave West communities to Botswana’s national grid through the Northwest Transmission Grid Project Phase 2. The project is expected to provide a more reliable and secure electricity supply while reducing reliance on the current imported electricity arrangement from Namibia.
However, the project has experienced delays due to funding constraints. Government is pursuing financing through a public-private partnership to implement the project.
Kenewendo said that once funding arrangements have been concluded, construction is expected to take approximately two to three years. Firm commencement and completion dates will only be provided once funding has been secured.
The immediate priority, Government said, remains increasing supply capacity at Ngoma while work continues towards the permanent national-grid connection.
There is currently no approved local electricity-generation project specifically for the affected villages.
However, Government remains open to alternative solutions, including solar power and energy storage, subject to further technical and financial assessment.
The Minister said electricity imports from neighbouring countries form part of Botswana’s strategy to ensure security and adequacy of supply.
During the 2025/2026 financial year, Botswana imported 126,351 MWh of electricity from Namibia, while total national electricity consumption stood at 4,282,565 MWh. Electricity imported from Namibia therefore represented approximately 3 percent of Botswana’s total electricity consumption.
For Chobe Enclave West, however, Kenewendo said the available capacity from NamPower is no longer sufficient to meet growing demand, particularly during morning and evening peak periods.
