From allAfrica

Botswana’s power utility has received permission to increase its electricity tariffs despite the series of power cuts characterizing the country in past three weeks.

Energy Minister, Kitso Mokaila, said the financial losses Botswana Power Corporation, had necessitated the increases.

“To this end, tariffs will be adjusted by an average of 10 percent with effect 1st April 2014,” Mokaila told CAJ News on Wednesday (today).

However, to cater for low income household and small industries, Mokaila said the increase would be between 5 and 6 percent respectively.

Analysts said the increase were likely to push up inflation, which currently stands at 4, 4 percent.

This is down from 6 percent in January.

Meanwhile, the Southern African nation’s production line has been grounded to a standstill as a result of power blackouts.

Scores of retailers in the capital Gaborone’s major shopping malls and most parts of the country could not open for business this week.

Written byMetic Kadimukwa/Read more at allAfrica