Eltel’s USD 90 million turnkey electrification project provides access to electricity for 100 000 citizens in Botswana.
The USD 90 000 000 rural electrification project in Botswana is now finalized. The project has been carried out by Eltel Networks TE AB, Sweden, as the main contractor. Some twenty different local sub-consultants and sub-contractors have been utilized to connect 100 villages to the national electricity grid. The villages are located all over Botswana, a country the size of France.
The three year project has been finalized within the time frame and within budget. It has consisted of the following main components:
- 3 200 km of overhead lines 66 kV, 33 kV, 11 kV and 0,4 kV
- 55 substations 33/11 kV and 600 pole mounted transformers 11/0,4 kV
- one new 66/33 kV substation and extension of 66 kV and 132 kV substations
The project has generated work for more than 1 000 persons during the project period and has given around 100 000 citizens in Botswana the opportunity to get access to electricity.
Eltel Networks has with turn-key responsibility, successfully handled project management, planning, design, material procurement, logistics, and safety/quality control.
It should be noted that the project has been carried out without any serious work-related accidents, which is a remarkable achievement considering the large amount of personnel involved, working with electrical installations in an existing network.
The finalization of the project was manifested in a closing ceremony taking place in Matsitama village, located some 100 km west of Francistown on 22nd October. An estimated number of 2 000 people participated in the event that was honored by the presence of the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, the Swedish Ambassador to Botswana, Members of Parliament, representatives of the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Botswana Power Corporation, the project consultant SWECO international and management of ELTEL Networks TE AB. "I am proud of the participation of Swedish companies in the 100 Villages Electrification Project" said Peter Tejler, Swedish Ambassador to Botswana. The Botswana Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water, P Kedikilwe, also complimented the successful execution of the works: "The commissioning of this project marks yet another milestone in the continued and successful cooperation and collaboration between Sweden and Botswana".
More information:
Gösta Westerlund, Project Director 100 Villages Electrification Project,
Eltel Networks TE AB, Stockholm, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 585 37 950, gosta.westerlund@eltelnetworks.com