The Botswana government has officially launched the Francistown Depot Gantry, furthering its efforts to ensure the country’s petroleum security.
In his keynote address at the launch, Minister Lefoko Moagi explained that Botswana’s existing strategic storage facilities, built in Gaborone and Francistown, are no longer adequate to meet growing demand.
“The facilities, established in 1979, have been outpaced by the increased consumption of petroleum products,” Moagi said, emphasizing the government’s ongoing commitment to maintain a contingency supply of petroleum in line with its Essential Supplies Programme.
Moagi highlighted that in 2008, the government, through the Ministry of Minerals, Energy, and Water Resources, engaged a consultant to review the country’s supply strategy.
The goal was to update the petroleum reserve storage to align with World Bank recommendations, which call for maintaining 90 days’ worth of petroleum products in non-oil-producing nations.
“The study was reviewed again in 2012 and recommended the expansion of storage facilities in key strategic areas such as Ghanzi, Francistown, and Tshele Hills,” Moagi added.
The construction of the Francistown Depot expansion began in September 2022, signaling a proactive approach to securing Botswana’s fuel supply.
Botswana Oil Limited (BOL) CEO, Meshack Tshekedi, provided further details, noting that the country’s petroleum products are primarily imported from abroad.
“These storage facilities in Gaborone, Francistown, and Tshele Hills are crucial to protect Botswana from any potential disruptions in supply,” said Tshekedi.
The newly launched gantry at Francistown is part of a broader strategy to diversify Botswana’s supply routes, reducing its reliance on South African refineries, and strengthening the country’s energy resilience.