9 September 2026
- Set to be the largest power plant ever built in Botswana
- Will cost over $2 billion(over P25 Billion)
- To produce 700 MW power
- Jindal to sell power to BPC for 30 years
Nestled between the villages of Mmaphashalala and Mookane in the prolific coalfields of Mmamabula, the Jindal coal-fired power plant is rising into a magnificent industrial structure visible from afar. Its towering chimney has already pierced the skyline, standing as a striking symbol of the massive facility taking shape on the horizon.
Once operational, the plant will burn coal to generate electricity, with the chimney discharging the resulting exhaust gases high above the ground as the plant churns 700MW of power into the national grid, unlike anything ever witnessed in Botswana.
The multibillion-dollar independent power production project was kick-started by then-President Mokgweetsi Masisi in October 2023 during a groundbreaking ceremony attended by the chairman of the Jindal Group , billionaire Naveen Jindal.
The project is expected to generate 700 MW of electricity, making Botswana not only self-reliant in energy but also capable of generating a surplus that could be supplied to neighbouring countries.
With a total investment of over US$2 billion, (over P25 billion), the project is set to become one of the largest privately funded industrial projects ever undertaken in Botswana.
The power plant is expected to make a significant contribution to Botswana’s energy security while supporting the country’s industrialisation and economic growth. The project is already creating substantial opportunities for local businesses, with contracts worth about P1 billion having been awarded to local companies. It also provides employment to approximately 1,700 Batswana.
To date, the Jindal Mmamabula Energy Project has recorded significant engineering milestones, including the successful lifting and installation of the 189-metric-tonne Unit 2 boiler steam drum, positioned 53.5 metres above ground. The steam drum is the heaviest single component of the boiler and its installation marks the first major milestone in the erection of the Unit 2 boiler. Construction of the boiler is now approximately 17% complete.
The installation clears the way for the next phase, which involves fitting the pressure parts that will transport water and steam through the boiler system.
In July 2023, Jindal signed a Power Purchase Agreement with Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) to finance, build, own and operate the thermal power station and sell electricity to BPC for 30 years.
Jindal holds mining licences covering an estimated three billion tonnes of coal and plans to produce about 4.5 million tonnes of coal annually, which would make it the largest operational coal mine in Botswana. Most of the coal mined at Mmamabula is expected to be used to fuel the power station.
Source: The Projects Magazine via Facebook
