MBABANE – Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) has signed a six-month contract with Taiwan Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Services (TEMES) to provide technical services for conducting a Gas-Fired Power Plant feasibility study between Lubhuku and Edwaleni.
EEC is planning to establish a baseload gas-fired power plant at Edwaleni area to supply the required electricity for current and future load demand. The feasibility study shall address the issues related to the Project including plant sizing, optimal siting, technology selection, economic viability, environmental impacts, and network integration options as a well as ensure that the design conforms to the best practice of Eswatini and international standards.
The contract signing was done on the 14th February 2023 at the EEC head office – Eluvatsini House in the presence of the EEC Managing Director (MD) Ernest Mkhonta who stated that the study will assist EEC to decide if the Project is a viable proposition to pursue, procure and meets the requirements for bankable feasibility studies of commercial lending institutions and development financing institutions.
“The Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) is envisaged to be about 250 MW and targeted at addressing the baseload requirements for the country. This Project was proposed as an alternative of a coal-fired power plant,” Mkhonta said.
He indicated that this was one of theinitiatives the Company was undertaking as part of its strategic objective to increased internal generation.
According to TEMES Vice President Hengshan Lin, the plans to increase internal generation for Eswatini was an urgent matter, and therefore, his team will work around the clock to see through the completion of this study. He indicated that the gas-fired power plant was one of the most feasible electricity generation options available for the country.
This partnership follows an MOU signed with Taiwan Power Company (TPC) in 2018 for collaborative projects in the areas of thermal, hydro, wind and solar power plants and electrical power transmission and distribution as well as EEC employee training.
TPC has provided technical services to EEC which forms part of a Bilateral Cooperation Agreement in Energy and Mineral Resources between the Republic of China on Taiwan and the Kingdom of Eswatini.
This agreement seeks to provide technical assistance in generation expansion and transmission reinforcement projects so as to accelerate the economic development of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The signing of the contract preceded other meetings and site visits between the Taiwan team and officials from EEC from Monday the 13th to the 17th February 2023.
