BY THANDIWE MATSENJWA
MBABANE – Fuel quality will now be tested in this country.
This comes after Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Prince Lonkhokhela pronounced that ESERA ISO 17025 accreditation as formally launched.
The event took place yesterday (Wednesday, July 31, 2024) in Mbabane.
According to information from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (EERA) has celebrated a major milestone with the launch and accreditation of its fuel testing laboratory, in a move that confirms its commitment to maintaining the highest standards in fuel quality and safety.
During the event, the minister emphasised the importance of fuel quality and safety for the nation’s economic stability and environmental sustainability. “This prestigious accreditation is a testament to our unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of fuel quality and safety,” Prince Lonkhokhela was quoted as saying.
The minister further highlighted the need for fuel industry players to avoid any form of adulteration and malpractice, emphasising the long-term negative effects on fuel-driven appliances and motor vehicle engines.
“The Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority is now well-equipped to identify any fuel adulteration, and we urge industry players to avoid such practices, as this would have detrimental consequences. We are confident that industry players will make use of the Eswatini laboratory to test their fuels and maintain the highest standards of fuel quality,” he said.
According to information from ESERA, the accreditation of its fuel testing laboratories will not only be beneficial to the organisation, but to the country as a whole. Fuel industry players in the country will no longer be required to send fuel samples to neighbouring countries, but will get the service here in Eswatini.
According to ESERA, the fuel testing lab is accredited to ISO 17025:21, which demonstrates competency, quality and reliability of test results. The ESERA Fuel Testing is now an internationally recognised testing laboratory.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (EERA), Skhumbuzo Tsabedze, echoed the Minister’s words, asserting that the laboratory’s results would now be internationally recognized and reliable.
“This particular standard, what it actually means is that the regulator can stand by the results that have been established by the laboratory and these results are acceptable internationally,” Tsabedze stated.
