Morupule B Outage Triggers Temporary Power Cuts Across Botswana

Morupule B Outage Triggers Temporary Power Cuts Across Botswana. Botswana Power Corporation has announced temporary electricity shortages across the country following a reduction in generation capacity linked to an unplanned outage at the Morupule B Power Station.

According to the utility, Unit 1 at the power station has been shut down and is expected to return to service by April 23. At the same time, work is ongoing to bring Unit 3 back online after undergoing maintenance. The combined impact of these developments has placed pressure on the national grid, leading to short-term supply constraints.

To manage the situation, BPC confirmed that load shedding will be implemented from April 21 to 24. The power cuts are expected to occur mainly during peak demand periods, specifically between 6am and 10am, and again from 6pm to 10pm.

The utility stated that it is deploying alternative energy sources to help ease the strain on the system. This includes the use of solar power during daylight hours, which is expected to provide partial relief while efforts continue to restore full generating capacity.

BPC indicated that supply conditions are likely to stabilise by the end of the week, once the affected units at Morupule B Power Station are back in operation. The corporation has not announced any additional measures beyond the current load management schedule.

In the meantime, customers across Botswana have been urged to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours to help minimise the impact of the disruptions. Demand-side cooperation, the utility noted, will play a key role in maintaining grid stability while repairs and maintenance activities are completed.

The temporary outages highlight the challenges associated with generation interruptions and the importance of maintaining consistent power supply infrastructure. Further updates are expected as restoration efforts progress and capacity is gradually restored.