BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MANZINI– Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital is set to redirect millions of emalangeni from electricity bills to patient care following the commissioning of a 1-megawatt solar power plant expected to save the institution more than E3 million annually.
The landmark green energy investment, implemented through the Italy-Eswatini Cooperation Programme, is expected to significantly reduce the hospital’s operational costs while strengthening the reliability of critical healthcare services and advancing Eswatini’s climate action agenda.
Speaking during the Eswatini TV Kusile Breakfast Show on July 7, 2026, Eswatini Nazarene Health Institutions (ENHI) Chief Executive Officer Mazwi Mavuso said the project was not simply about generating electricity, but about creating a more resilient and sustainable healthcare system capable of delivering uninterrupted services to thousands of emaSwati.
Mavuso said the hospital currently spends approximately E500 000 every month on electricity and energy-related costs, including powering coal-fired boilers used to produce steam for laundry services. With the new solar plant and compatible energy-efficient systems now in place, those costs are expected to decline by nearly 50 per cent, generating annual savings exceeding E3 million.
Rather than allowing the savings to remain on the balance sheet, the hospital plans to channel the funds directly into improving patient care.
Mavuso said the money would be invested in purchasing modern medical equipment, replacing ageing hospital beds, acquiring functional wheelchairs and strengthening essential healthcare services.
He revealed that RFM Hospital has already begun establishing a fully-fledged pathology and cytology unit using part of the anticipated savings. The facility will enable faster diagnosis of cervical cancer and other diseases, reducing dependence on the national reference laboratory in Mbabane while ensuring patients receive timely results and treatment.
He said faster diagnoses would ultimately improve patient outcomes and save lives.
Mavuso stressed that uninterrupted electricity is non-negotiable in healthcare, where even a brief power interruption can have devastating consequences.
He said operating theatres, intensive care units, laboratories, renal services and diagnostic equipment require continuous, reliable power, making the solar investment a critical safeguard for the hospital’s operations.
“A delay in intervention might mean a patient is discharged through the mortuary instead of the pharmacy,” he said.
The solar facility consists of more than 2 000 solar panels supported by a storage system of 190 batteries. During the day, electricity generated by the panels powers hospital operations while simultaneously charging the batteries.
After sunset, the system automatically switches to battery storage, which is capable of sustaining hospital operations until approximately 2am to 3am before seamlessly reverting to the national electricity grid.
Mavuso explained that while the hospital still relies on the grid to guarantee uninterrupted services throughout the night, the hybrid system dramatically reduces electricity consumption and provides a dependable backup during outages.
Before the installation of the solar plant, RFM depended heavily on large diesel generators whenever the national grid failed.
He said operating multiple generators was extremely costly, environmentally damaging and unsustainable due to high fuel consumption and carbon emissions. The new solar system has significantly reduced that dependence while contributing to cleaner healthcare delivery.
Beyond the financial benefits, Mavuso described the project as an important contribution to Eswatini’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Looking to the future, ENHI hopes to work closely with the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority and the Eswatini Electricity Company to enable excess electricity generated during peak sunshine hours to be fed back into the national grid.
Mavuso said exporting surplus electricity would further reduce the hospital’s operating costs while supporting the country’s clean energy transition.
He added that the solar plant is expected to be fully handed over to RFM Hospital’s management in January 2027, with part of the savings reserved for maintaining and protecting the solar infrastructure.
Mavuso emphasised that investment in RFM Hospital is an investment in the health of the entire nation.
Located in the heart of the country, the hospital serves as a major referral centre for patients from Hhohho, Lubombo, Shiselweni and the Manzini region, making every investment in the institution a direct investment in the wellbeing of all emaSwati.
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(Courtesy Pic)
