𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲
Botswana Oil Limited (BOL) celebrated and launched the Road Loading and Offloading Gantry, marking the completion of the first phase of the Francistown Fuel Depot Expansion Project that began in October 2022.
Once the expansion is complete, the depot will be Botswana’s largest petroleum storage facility. The current capacity is 38 million litres, and an additional 60 million litres is under construction as part of the second phase.
The launch was officiated by the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Honourable Lefoko Maxwell Moagi, highlighting BOL’s mandate to ensure the security of the petroleum supply.
Kgosi Pepukai Makambe of Monarch emphasized the Government’s commitment to national development, stating that the expansion will help reduce social, geopolitical, and economic pressures on petroleum products imports.
The CEO Mr Meshack Tshekedi indicated that Botswana as a landlocked country, imports all its petroleum products. He shared that the original depots, built in 1979, are insufficient for the growing demand, hence the need to upgrade the infrastructure. The Francistown depot serves about 38% of the national petroleum demand and is strategically located for imports from Mozambique via Zimbabwe.
The project includes guard houses, bund walls, and a security building, additional storage tanks, an administrative building, a testing laboratory, rail and road loading facilities.
The Hon. Minister Moagi emphasised that it is critical to expand the storage facilities to maintain strategic reserves to support the economy in the event of supply disruptions.
The Francistown expansion project has been delivered in two phases, with contracts awarded to various contractors, ensuring local involvement and employment. So far, 452 jobs have been created, significantly benefiting Batswana and local businesses.
The engagement of citizen contractors has been a priority, with over P213 million spent on local firms, fostering skills transfer and economic empowerment.
As the event concluded, the Minister expressed pride in the new gantry, the largest of its kind in Botswana, symbolizing the tangible benefits of BOL's strategic initiatives and their crucial role in achieving the Government’s 90% import mandate, setting the stage for future growth in Botswana’s petroleum industry.
In his closing remarks, Mayor Godisang Radisigo highlighted the alignment of the current project with the Vision 2022 Strategy, which aims to transform Francistown and foster investment partnerships.
He thanked the Honourable Minister for his visionary leadership and urged residents to prepare to take advantage of new business opportunities, collaborate with partners, and contribute to the City's growth.
The Francistown Depot Expansion Project represents a critical investment in Botswana's energy security.
The event was live on Facebook, visit the live recording for more.