This is a conversation not about pipelines and supply chains alone, but about energy security, facilitating access to resources, shaping industrial strategies, empowering citizens and communities to influence economic policies and advocating for equitable distribution of resources, promoting development of sustainable economic models and what it means to power a nation intentionally.

As CEO of Botswana Oil, you sit at the helm of one of the nation’s most strategically positioned entities. What is the mission you wake up with — and how do you see BOL’s role evolving in Botswana’s broader national development narrative?

Each day, I wake up with a mission that goes beyond business, a mission of national service. At BOL, we are entrusted with a responsibility that touches every corner of our economy and every household in our nation, ensuring the security and sustainability of Botswana’s petroleum supply.

Our role is not just to deliver fuel, it is to develop a sustainable eco-system for the oil and gas industry. We are building strategic infrastructure like the Ghanzi Fuel Depot and expanding the Francistown depot to double our national strategic reserves and diversify sources of supply and supply routes. We are empowering citizen-owned businesses, ensuring that our energy sector reflects the talent and ambition of our people.

In addition, we are forging partnerships across agriculture, mining, and logistics sectors because energy is the heartbeat of every productive sector. And we do all this with a commitment to environmental stewardship, commercial excellence, and regional integration.

Botswana Oil is a strategic enabler of Botswana’s development ambitions and transformation agent for the Government to achieve wider economic development objectives We are here to ensure that when Botswana transitions, it does so with purpose, confidence and resilience.

Energy sovereignty is a bold idea. In concrete terms, what does it mean for Botswana to truly own, secure, and shape its energy destiny — beyond just importing fuel?

For Botswana, energy sovereignty is more than a concept. It is a call to action. It is the vision of a nation that does not merely consume energy, but owns, secures, and shapes its energy destiny.

So what does this mean in concrete terms?

First, it means energy security and diversifying our energy sources. We must move beyond dependence on imported petroleum products and embrace the full spectrum of energy options available to us, such as solar, biofuels, natural gas, and other emerging technologies. Botswana is endowed with abundant coal reserves that can be transformed into fuel and valuable by-products such as fertilizers, unlocking the potential for a mega petrochemical industry that creates thousands of jobs and generates new, sustainable revenue streams.

Our country is rich in sunlight. Let us turn that light into power for our homes, our industries, and our future ensure equitable and affordable access of energy for al our people.

Second, it means building local capacity to ensure self-reliance. We must invest in refining capabilities and strategic fuel reserves. This will not only secure our supply in times of global uncertainty, but also create jobs, stimulate innovation, and build technical expertise right here in Botswana.

Third, it means developing robust infrastructure. Pipelines, storage facilities, and distribution networks must be built and maintained by Batswana, for Batswana. Control over our energy logistics is control over our economic resilience.

Fourth, it means strengthening our institutions and policies. Botswana Oil Limited, and other key players, must be empowered to lead with agility, transparency, and accountability. We need policies that encourage investment, foster innovation, and support public-private partnerships.

Fifth, it means investing in our people. Sovereignty is not just about assets, it is about knowledge. We must train engineers, scientists, and energy professionals who will carry this vision forward. We must ensure that our youth are equipped to lead in a world powered by clean, smart energy.

And finally, it means collaborating regionally but thinking nationally. We value our neighbours and regional partners, but Botswana must always act from a position of strength, guided by our own strategic interests.

Energy sovereignty is about dignity. It is about development. It is about ensuring that every citizen, from the farmer in our remote areas to the entrepreneur in the cities, has access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy.

Historically, BOL has been seen through a logistics and supply lens. Under your leadership, how are you repositioning the company to be a driver of citizen industrialization, infrastructure development, and long-term national resilience?

Indeed, the company has been viewed primarily through the lens of logistics and fuel supply as a reliable conduit for petroleum products into our economy. And while that role remains essential, under my leadership, we are embarking on a bold transformation.

We are repositioning Botswana Oil Limited to be a leading diversified energy business in the region. As the National Oil Company, we are a strategic enabler of citizen industrialization, infrastructure development, and long-term national resilience.

Localising value creation

Instead of simply importing and distributing fuel, we are exploring ways to process and refine locally, using our abundant coal reserves and renewable energy potential. This shift will unlock new industries, from fuel production to fertilizer manufacturing, creating jobs and empowering local entrepreneurs.

Investing in energy infrastructure that serves the nation

Our focus is on building and owning strategic assets such as pipelines, depots, and storage facilities that ensure energy security and stimulate regional development. These are not just logistical upgrades, they are nation-building tools.

Driving citizen participation in the energy economy

Through targeted procurement, skills development, and enterprise support, we are ensuring that Batswana are not just beneficiaries, but active participants in this transformation. Industrialization must be inclusive, and Botswana Oil is committed to making that a reality.

Aligning with national resilience goals

Energy is the backbone of every sector, from agriculture to mining to digital innovation. By securing and diversifying our energy sources, we are helping Botswana withstand global shocks and chart a stable, sovereign path forward.

Finally, our new vision is to be a leading diversified energy business in the region. We are looking at opportunities such as regional supply of petroleum products through the establishment of a trading company and exploring new cleaner energy mixes such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and biodiesel.

This is not just a corporate repositioning. It is a national mission.

Botswana Oil Limited is evolving, from a logistics company to a strategic catalyst for industrialization, infrastructure, and resilience. And we are doing it with purpose, with pride, and with the people of Botswana at the heart of it all.

Building trust and efficiency in a state-owned entity is not easy — yet critical. What operational reforms, systems, or governance principles have you instituted to ensure Botswana Oil operates with transparency, accountability, and commercial sharpness?

Indeed, building trust and efficiency in a state-owned entity is not easy, but it is absolutely critical. At Botswana Oil Limited, we understand that our mandate goes beyond fuel logistics. We are custodians of national assets, and we must operate with the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and commercial sharpness.

Under my leadership, we have instituted a series of operational reforms, systems, and governance principles to ensure that Botswana Oil is not only trusted but respected as a high-performing, future-ready organization.

Let me highlight a few key pillars of this transformation:

1. Governance Reform and Board

Empowerment

Overtime we have strengthened our governance framework by ensuring that our Board of Directors operates independently, with clear oversight and strategic alignment. We have also introduced performance-based metrics and regular audits to ensure decisions are data-driven and outcomes-focused.

2. Digital Systems for Transparency and

Efficiency

Operational efficiency and effectiveness is key in our dynamic environment, promting us to invest in modern enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to digitize procurement, inventory, and financial management. These systems reduce manual errors, improve traceability, and allow real-time reporting, making our operations more transparent and efficient.