GABORONE, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's electricity generation has improved amid deficit challenges the country has faced since 2008, says the country's latest electricity report.

The report issued on Wednesday by Statistics Botswana (SB) indicates that electricity generation increased by 20.1 percent from 682,380 megawatt-hour (MWH) during the first quarter of 2018, to 819,755 MWH during the second quarter of the same year.

"The local electricity generation has been growing steadily from the first quarter of 2013 to the current quarter, from an index of just around 60 MWH and ending at just under 200 MWH," said Burton Mguni, Statistician General.

The physical volume of electricity generated locally increased by 21.4 percent year on year, from 675,047 MWH during the second quarter of 2017 to 819,755 MWH during second quarter of 2018.

Mguni said due to high operating costs, there was minimal use of emergency power plants during the second quarter of 2018.

The Southern African region have been experienced massive power shortages since 2008 after South Africa started restricting power exports.