Super vendors to reduce congestion at BPC offices

SYLVIAH DISELE
Correspondent | Thursday January 31, 2013 00:00

 

Speaking at a media briefing hosted by super vendor, Sandulela Telecom, in Gaborone yesterday, BPC chief executive Jacob Raleru said the rationale to partner with Sandulela and other super vendors like Choppies, Spar and Engen is to help Batswana access electricity in the electrified villages.

'This will mean that people do not have to travel long distances for electricity and they are also able to buy at all times of the day. The partnership would also be necessary in future so that we reduce congestion at our offices. In the next five years, we want to find ways of delivering services without customers coming to our offices,' he said.

Sandulela is one of six super vendors engaged by the BPC for the prepaid electricity rollout. The firm would engage downstream businesses and individuals who would sell access to prepaid power via scratch cards, cellphone or mobile access, among other methods.

The super vendor model adds to the BPC's own network of 128 vendors of prepaid electricity countrywide.The device used requires a sim card. It sells both electricity and airtime making electricity accessible even in remote areas.

Giving an overview of the project, a representative of Sandulela, Percy Radikoro, said for BPC to have electrified over 200 villages means that the project has the potential of attracting big brands and advanced technology.'We have sold over 107 prepaid devices and we hope the number will rise,' he said, adding that they have been operational for the past six weeks.

Radikoro promised that the service would be found countrywide in all areas. He said the prepaid box does not require to be connected to electricity.'To date, we work around the clock to alleviate challenges that the new system experienced so our consumers can be assured that the problems will not reoccur,' he said.

Businesses and individuals interested in selling electricity will be required to pay P2 000. They will further be taught how the box works. The customers reap a two percent profit margin at the start of the project but Sandulela is open to negotiations to improve terms.The national rollout of prepaid metering is in full swing with consumers in Jwaneng, Lobatse, Francistown, Selebi -Phikwe and parts of Gaborone such as White City already having converted from post-paid to prepaid modes.