BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Eswatini is making steady and commendable progress towards energy sovereignty, with renewable energy projected to account for more than 63 per cent of the country’s national electricity capacity in the coming years.
This positive outlook was confirmed during the signing of a major Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) between the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) and Ubombo Sugar Limited (USL).
Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, His Royal Highness Prince Lonkhokhela, described the milestone as a significant achievement for the Kingdom, reflecting years of strategic investment and policy commitment in local power generation. He was speaking last week at the PPA signing ceremony, where it was announced that USL will inject up to 40 megawatts (MW) of electricity into the national grid from June 2028. Currently, USL injects 16 MW of electricity into the national grid.
“This is a major step forward when one considers where Eswatini comes from in terms of electricity production,” said Prince Lonkhokhela. “Reaching a renewable share of over 63 per cent demonstrates that our vision for energy independence is steadily becoming a reality.”
Currently, Eswatini’s annual electricity demand stands at approximately 1 366 gigawatt-hours (GWh). A significant portion of this demand is still met through imports. According to EEC, electricity imports account for about 76 per cent of national supply, broken down as follows: 65 per cent from South Africa’s National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA), four per cent from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), four per cent from Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM), and three per cent from Botswana Power Corporation (BPC).
Local generation currently contributes the remaining share, with EEC producing around 20 per cent of national demand and Ubombo Sugar Limited supplying five per cent through its existing co-generation plant. The newly signed PPA will increase USL’s contribution to ten per cent, significantly reducing the country’s reliance on imported electricity.
The Minister explained that the growth in renewable capacity is being driven by a combination of solar, hydro and co-generation projects. These include the recently launched 20 MW solar plant at Ndumo, a forthcoming 15 MW solar facility at Ndzevane, and existing renewable assets such as the Lower Maguduza hydropower station and EEC’s current generation fleet. When these projects reach full production, renewable energy will account for approximately 63.4 per cent of national capacity.
Once fully stabilised, the expanded USL co-generation plant is expected to deliver close to 141 GWh of energy per year, meeting around 14 per cent of Eswatini’s electricity needs.
EEC Managing Director Ernest Mkhonta reaffirmed the utility’s commitment to fair and transparent grid access for all qualifying independent power producers (IPPs), noting that this approach is essential to reducing import dependency. He also highlighted the need for continued grid upgrades to accommodate increased generation capacity in certain areas.
Looking ahead, Government is in discussions with 18 additional IPP ventures, with the ambition of developing up to 1 500 MW of generation capacity for domestic use and export. This strategic direction positions Eswatini to become a net exporter of electricity in the future.
Prince Lonkhokhela concluded by emphasising that these initiatives align with His Majesty’s Government’s vision to eradicate energy poverty and ensure affordable, reliable electricity for all Emaswati.
“This project represents confidence, progress and national resilience,” he said. “It is about securing our energy future and strengthening our economy for generations to come.”
(📸 Courtesy Pic)
