Positioned at the helm of empowering local enterprises, this initiative enables citizen-owned companies to engage significantly in the fuel supply value chain. Working in concert, the partnership will bolster the participation of Botswana’s businesses in an industry noted for its considerable financial entry barriers.
Meshack Tshekedi heralds the partnership, spotlighting BOL’s role as an essential linchpin in ensuring a steady fuel supply to Debswana’s mines which anchor the national economy. Leveraging its import capaciousness and secure storage facilities, BOL commits to quality assurance and a consistent fuel stock – a critical support given Debswana’s substantial annual demand.
Debswana’s inclination toward collaboration was fueled by a discernible gap: local firms had scant foothold in the centurial Botswana petroleum sector. BOL, entrusted with the mandate to usher citizens into this sphere, emerged as a natural ally. Their partnership is primed to lessen national supply disruptions—a testament to BOL’s resilience, especially when it effectively navigated the 2020 Covid-lead volatilities. The strategic partnership signifies more than just supply assurance; it heralds a commitment to skill transfer, ensuring beneficiaries emerge from the five-year programme as competent entities within the fuel industry.
BOL’s developmental strategy is comprehensive, incorporating a citizen facilitation framework designed to elevate nationals along the oil value chain. From fuel transportation to facilities maintenance, comprehensive coverage is provided, including support services like customs clearance and truck maintenance. The initiative anticipates significant scale-up, with select citizen suppliers slated for development. Training is a cornerstone of the programme, as evidenced by existing BOL competence-building interventions. Workshops covering an extensive range of industry topics such as pricing and transportation have already catalyzed the rise of 13 emergent companies. The partnership involves a broad spectrum of supplementary services spurred by the oil value chain—from truck stops to tyre services—tailored to facilitate seamless and economic transport operations for BOL and Debswana.
When transportation is managed by local companies, an entire micro-economy thrives. Insurance services are sourced from indigenous brokers, financing leverages local banking systems, and repair and maintenance facilities grow around trucking hubs. This not only strengthens local repair shops and parts suppliers but also bolsters ancillary services such as roadside catering and security, creating a comprehensive, locally sustained service network.
Meshack Tshekedi
Projected outcomes encompass not merely transactional expertise but also the assurance of robust and sustainable commercial benefits for all involved parties. Throughout the partnership term, BOL is set on cultivating a cadre of citizens who are competent in supply and transportation, charting a course for long-term prosperity and a fortified national economic landscape.
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This ambitious partnership is a strategic economic fulcrum, poised to pivot citizen-owned companies into the heart of Botswana’s fuel economy. With BOL’s guidance and Debswana’s commitment, the alliance offers a robust model of sustainable development and citizen empowerment in a capital-intensive sector.
