Government has hailed the completion of the road loading and offloading gantry for the Francistown oil storage project a success that will bolster the country’s fuel supply.
Officially opening the gantry facility last week Thursday, minister of minerals and energy, Lefoko Moagi said,” the Francistown facility is one of the country’s first and biggest of its kind.”
“It is a testament of the tangible results from Botswana Oil and in meeting Botswana Oil’s 90 percent import mandate. Construction of the Francistown depot started in September 2022 after government sanctioned Botswana Oil Limited to increase supply of petroleum products,” highlighted Moagi.
Francistown oil storage facility will increase the country’s contingency supply of petroleum products by 60 million litres from the current supply of 38 million litres. This is in line with international standards for no fuel producing countries and essential supplies programme.
“This facility is central to Botswana’s future energy security and will strengthen the country’s position in the regional fuel market,”, said the Minister.
Moagi said Botswana Oil’s resolve to undertake the expansion project is in line with government’s energy policy, to have reliable and sustainable source and storage of petroleum products.
Construction of the road loading and offloading gantry was undertaken at a cost of P219 million, is phase one of the entire project to expanded the Francistown fuel storage depot. Phase two which expected to be complete in July next year and involves civil works, construction of four fuel storage tanks. Bringing the costs of the entire project to P434.6 million.
Construction of the road loading and off road loading facility, generated employment for 452 people, which included artisans from Francistown and surrounding villages.
“Citizen owned contractors were engaged through strategic partnerships to deliver some of the projects works, with over P213 million already spent on the contractors”, highlighted Minister Moagi.
Botswana Oil Chief Executive Officer, Meshack Tshekedi emphasised that the expansion of fuel storage facilities will give Botswana the much needed flexibility muscle in managing supply disruptions and fluctuations in demand.
“Botswana Oil is positioning itself in being more resilient and safeguard against future supply shocks.”
Expansion of the country’s fuel storage facilities has been on the cards since 2008. The existing storage facilities were built in the 1970s and were no longer sufficient to meet the country’s growing demand for petroleum products. Francistown depot was identified as a crucial hub for imports from Mozambique through Zimbabwe.
Once complete Francistown depot which accounts for 38 percent of the country’s fuel consumption, will increase the country’s fuel storage capacity to the desired 90-day cover in case of severe shortages.
