Eskom to hike power tariffs by 24 percent

Botswana imports 80 percent of its power needs mainly from Eskom.In November last year, South Africa's State-owned power utility Eskom applied for increases of 35 percent a year over the three-year MYPD2 timeframe, having initially requested yearly increases of 45 percent, which it said were necessary to help it cover rising operational and capital costs.

The electricity price will rise to 41,5 c/kWh this year, to 52 c/kWh in 2011/2012 and to over 65 c/kwh in 2012/2013. The increase, which will be wildly unpopular, will add to inflationary pressures and could limit economic growth and job creation.