By Tandzile Dlamini
EZULWINI — Standard Bank Eswatini hosted the 2025 Eswatini Energy Indaba today at the Royal Villas, bringing together government officials, investors, regulators, and energy experts to address how the country can achieve energy security and reduce dependency on imported electricity.
The event, themed “Championing Energy Transformation and Security within Eswatini,” also marked a major milestone for the bank’s role in financing clean energy. Among the key speakers was Barry Schutzler, Head of Corporate & Investment Banking at Standard Bank Eswatini, who reflected on the journey that began in 2023 when the bank hosted its first Energy Indaba. “We made it clear that we wanted to lead the energy revolution in Eswatini, not just in words, but through action,” he said.
One of the major success stories shared was the Lower Maguduza Hydro Power Project , a 13.5MW plant developed through collaboration with African Clean Energy Developments (ACED), Old Mutual, and the Public Service Pensions Fund. Standard Bank Eswatini financed E567 million of the E1.1 billion required, making it the bank’s first hydro power investment and a national first in independent hydropower generation.
Schutzler highlighted that the project is not just about power supply, it creates jobs, enhances local skills in renewable technology, and significantly reduces Eswatini’s dependency on imported electricity, which currently sits at 80%, primarily from South Africa and Mozambique.
As the country navigates a new power purchase agreement with Eskom amid rising energy costs, the Indaba offered a critical space for dialogue. “The challenges are real, from tariff hikes to grid strain, but they present an opportunity for unified action,” Schutzler noted.
Standard Bank has committed over E450 billion toward green finance across Africa between 2025 and 2028, with Eswatini at the heart of that vision. “Eswatini is our home, and we are committed to driving her growth,” Schutzler concluded.
With a focus on collaboration, innovation, and financing transformative projects, the 2025 Energy Indaba reaffirmed that the path to energy security in Eswatini is both possible and underway, with Standard Bank leading from the front.
(Featured Image by: Standard Bank Eswatini)
