Botswana Power Corp. has contracted SWECO (Stockholm, Sweden) to assist in the large-scale expansion of the country’s power distribution system. The contract is worth more than EUR 2.1 million.

”At the moment, we are carrying out a number of similar assignments in Africa, where rural electrification is contributing to improved quality of life, social development and the creation of new jobs,” says Anders Ståhl, overseas manager, at SWECO Energuide.

SWECO will study electric power needs in the 100 villages and propose a suitable route alignment for the power grid. SWECO will also support Botswana Power Corp. in the actual extension of the sub-transmission lines. The goal is to build a robust and reliable system to which both commercial and domestic users can connect. The grid expansion project is being funded by loans from Nordea and the Nordic Investment Bank.

Botswana is one of the African countries where rural electrification is moving forward most quickly. Aside from the assignment in which SWECO is involved, an effort has been launched to provide an additional 50 villages with power. The assignment is part of a larger development project spearheaded by the Government of Botswana.