BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE – The Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) today , 18 July 2025, launched a partnership with the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) at Mountain View Hotel, aimed at decentralising energy services and improving access for all emaSwati.
Through this partnership, post offices across the country will now distribute and receive licence application forms on behalf of ESERA. The partnership marks a significant shift in how licensing and regulatory services are delivered, ensuring that communities, whether rural or urban, are no longer burdened by the distance to ESERA’s Mbabane office.
ESERA Chief Executive Officer Sikhumbuzo Tsabedze said the initiative was born out of the need to bridge a service gap that has long affected small energy entrepreneurs, especially those outside urban centres.
“Today’s launch is not just about an agreement,” said Tsabedze. “It’s about responding to a practical challenge. Our single office in Mbabane has created unavoidable geographical limitations. Many emaSwati still rely on in-person services, and it is our duty to ensure no one is left behind.”
The partnership enables ESERA to use EPTC’s nationwide network of post offices as official collection and submission points for licence application forms. This gives applicants access to energy sector opportunities without the cost and time of travelling to Mbabane.
Citizens will now be able to access and submit applications for the following licence types at any local post office:
Electricity Sector
- Generation Licence and/or Exemption
- Supply Licence
- Distribution Licence
- Transmission Licence
- Export Licence
- Import Licence
Petroleum Sector
- Petroleum Wholesale Licence
- Commercial Consumer Licence
- Petroleum Retail Licence
- LPG Wholesale Licence
- LPG Retail Licence
EPTC’s Acting Managing Director Sabelo Dube described the partnership as a major stride in enhancing accessibility and national development. “EPTC is proud to serve as a communication and delivery channel for ESERA. This partnership will not only decentralise services but also improve public engagement in the energy sector,” he said.
Dube added that EPTC staff across all branches are ready to assist citizens in completing forms and directing them to the appropriate support channels when needed. A nominal service transaction fee of E50 will be paid by ESERA for each completed interaction.
The launch was attended by executive management from both organisations and other key stakeholders. It was widely praised as a forward-thinking solution aligned with the country’s push for inclusive economic growth and accessible public services.
“This partnership empowers individuals and small businesses to participate in Eswatini’s energy landscape,” Tsabedze added. “It’s a meaningful step towards economic inclusion and regulatory integrity.”
ESERA and EPTC are committed to monitoring and refining the partnership model based on feedback, with plans to explore additional joint projects in the future.
The ESERA–EPTC partnership brings energy licensing services closer to communities through EPTC’s post office network. This strategic collaboration aims to decentralise ESERA operations, improve accessibility, and promote broader participation in the energy sector across Eswatini.
