BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
SIDVOKODVO- Eswatini is strengthening its energy security by making better use of existing water infrastructure, with the refurbished Ferreira Canal at Sidvokodvo set to improve hydropower generation, water efficiency and public safety.
This was highlighted on Monday, August 24, 2026, when Minister of Natural Resources and Energy HRH Prince Lonkhokhela toured the refurbished Ferreira Canal, a critical component of the Kingdom’s hydropower system.
The project has transformed the more than 60-year-old canal into a safer and more efficient water conveyance system, while creating an opportunity to recover electricity-generation capacity that was previously lost through water leakage and seepage.
The refurbishment represents an investment of E105 million and involved lining approximately 7.2 kilometres of the canal and constructing three new reinforced concrete aqueducts.
Before the refurbishment, approximately 500 litres of water per second were being lost through leakage and seepage, contributing to the loss of nearly 30 per cent of the canal’s electricity-generation potential.
The improvements are expected to recover approximately 6.55 GWh of electricity annually, equivalent to an estimated E6.55 million in additional electricity generation every year.
The canal’s carrying capacity has also increased from 4.86 cubic metres per second to six cubic metres per second, creating an opportunity for additional generation capacity at Edwaleni in the future.
Prince Lonkhokhela described the project as an excellent example of how strategic investment in existing infrastructure can strengthen the country’s energy security.
“The Ferreira Canal is an excellent example of how strategic investment in existing infrastructure can unlock additional electricity generation without necessarily constructing an entirely new power station,” he said.
The Ferreira Canal has served Eswatini’s hydropower generation system for more than 60 years, supplying water to the Edwaleni and Maguduza hydropower stations.
Beyond electricity generation, the refurbishment has addressed important safety concerns.
The Minister noted that the previous aqueduct structures had deteriorated significantly and posed potential risks to neighbouring farms, homesteads, livestock, the environment and human life.
The new reinforced concrete aqueducts are expected to provide a safer and more reliable system capable of serving the country for more than 50 years.
“This is a reminder that infrastructure investment must always consider not only generation and financial returns, but also the safety of our communities and protection of our environment,” Prince Lonkhokhela said.
For surrounding communities and the agriculture sector, the improved infrastructure is equally important. Efficient and safer water conveyance supports responsible water management while reducing risks to farms, homesteads and livestock located near the canal.
By reducing water losses and improving the flow of water to the hydropower stations, Eswatini is extracting greater value from a renewable resource already available within the Kingdom.
Prince Lonkhokhela stressed that energy security is not only about constructing new power stations, but also about ensuring existing infrastructure operates efficiently and delivers its full potential.
The Minister also called on the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) and the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) to reconsider the cost of electricity, emphasising the need to keep power affordable for Emaswati.
“Electricity should not be expensive,” he said.
The Ferreira Canal refurbishment therefore represents more than the rehabilitation of ageing infrastructure. It is an investment in energy efficiency, public safety, water security and Eswatini’s renewable energy future.
As the Kingdom works to reduce its dependence on imported electricity, projects that recover lost generation capacity while strengthening existing infrastructure will remain critical to building a more secure, reliable and sustainable energy system.
The E105 million investment demonstrates that Eswatini can unlock more power by making smarter use of the infrastructure and natural resources it already has.
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(Courtesy Pic)
