BY LINDELWA MYENI
PHUZUMOYA– The Eswatini National Petroleum Company (ENPC) Strategic Oil Reserve Facility (SORF) project has created employment opportunities for 283 workers, including 242 Emaswati, as construction progresses to 28 per cent at Phuzumoya.
The workforce comprises 259 men and 24 women, with the project providing employment opportunities as the construction of the country’s strategic fuel storage facility advances.
ENPC General Manager for Strategy and Communications Musa Shongwe said the involvement of foreign workers was necessary because the project is the first of its kind in the country and requires specialised knowledge from outside Eswatini.
“Because this is the first time we are having such a project in the country, knowledge from outside is required,” Shongwe said.
He explained that while the project is creating opportunities for Emaswati, some specialised skills have to be brought in to support the implementation of the technically demanding development.
The project has engaged 23 subcontractors, comprising 20 local subcontractors and three foreign subcontractors, creating further opportunities for local businesses to participate in the construction programme.
Construction progress currently stands at 28% against a planned 21.6%, putting the project 6.4% points ahead of its planned physical progress. Financial utilisation stands at 16.5 %
The 283 workers are involved in various activities across the construction site, including civil works, construction of storage infrastructure and installation of supporting systems.
The project is being implemented through an engineering, procurement and construction arrangement covering project management, engineering, civil design, procurement of equipment and materials, construction, erection, pre-commissioning and commissioning.
Current construction activities include work on foundations and structures for the fuel storage tanks, LPG facilities and truck-loading infrastructure, alongside continued material deliveries and construction of the tanks.
The project is expected to be completed in December 2028, following preliminary works that began in August 2025 and the official project kickoff in January 2026.
Once completed, the SORF will provide 80 million litres of fuel storage capacity, comprising 40 million litres of petrol and 40 million litres of diesel, with four tanks allocated to each fuel.
The facility is also being developed with LPG facilities, pumps, loading and offloading bays, fire-fighting systems, administrative offices and a control centre.
The growing workforce and participation of local subcontractors demonstrate the opportunities being generated around the project as construction moves through different stages.
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