Own Correspondent
22nd October 2025
Botswana Oil’s 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫, 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐠𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐠, informed stakeholders at the Botswana Mining Show 2025 to discuss “Securing Energy Supply for Botswana’s Industrial and Mining Growth: Challenges and Opportunities,” that the stated owned petroleum giant has successfully transformed fuel industry and empowered citizen owned companies.
The purpose of Oil companies globally is to ensure security opf petroleum supply and to drive the commercial interests of government. At inception in 2013, Botswana Oil was also tasked with identifying opportunities for exploration and developing a coal to liquid project.
“We are looking to beneficiate coal,” said Moeng. Botswana Oil is very keen to explore opportunities to develop LNG, electricity, petroleum, diesel, jet fuel.
It is also keen to develop side products with commercial value like vinegar, bitman and sulphuric acid.
According to officials, Botswana Oil’s oil to liquid facility is also expected to create more industries as well as 5000 jobs during the construction phase and 2000 when the project is in operation.
It can generate about P5m annually to GDP and reduce dependence on foreign lubricants and fuel.
“A couple of years ago the industry was dominated by 3 or 4 foreign owned companies transporting fuel in and around Botswana. Now we have about 31 citizen owned companies with 180 trucks transporting fuel. In 2013 there were less than 5 companies doing so,” said 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐠𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐠, Botswana Oil’s 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫, 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐠𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐠.
He said, “We now supply 59% of our needs. But Botswana Oil continues to look for ways to expand the citizenship economic empowerment programme”
Botswana Oil is also looking for opportunities to partner with the private sector, to identify suitrable tracking systems for trucks dropping off fuel around the country to measure footrpint for carbon emission purposes. This would create opportunities for citizen owned businesses.
According to officials between 2020 – 2023 Botswana Oil was spending about P38million in business suporting locals. This figure has risen to P380million in the 2024-2025 financial year. “We have transformed the industry,” said Moeng.
𝐌𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐠 said, “We are however remain open to growing indigenous businesses.”
Botswana Oil says it is also committed to pursuing internationally recognized Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality standards as well as ISO certification, to ensure its operations and systems are aligned with international best practice.
