BY BUSINESS EDITOR
EZULWINI – The EU power transformation forum 2023 is being held at Royal Villas, with the theme “catalysing investments and power Sector Reforms to support the energy transition in Eswatini.”
The forum builds on the crucial conversations and relationships that began at the inaugural workshop in November 2022. Prince Lonkhokhela, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, attended the event and expressed his excitement at having his first official job of this nature.
One of the key aspects in the energy industry is the uncertainty of the contract Eswatini has with the South Africa, which expires in 2025. ESKOM is the largest supply to the local grid, amounting to over 70 per cent.
This has promoted the local business community as well as the financial institutions to work on a solution that would assure citizen that the supply of electricity would not be affected.
The government of Eswatini has urged investors and financial institutions to invest and diversify the local supply of electricity. The business community in the country was also urged to increase their investment towards renewable energy.
Business Eswatini and Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) held energy talks with other stakeholders earlier this year.
BE Chief Executive Officer Nathi Dlamini said one of the major objectives of the Indaba was to discuss the issues around the availability and sustainability of energy supply in the country, especially post 2025.
“It was felt that it is important to have an open conversation on this matter especially around the guarantee of future supplies of electricity as well as on the migration from fossil fuels to the more desirable and sustainable green energies,” he said.
Dlamini mentioned that with the widespread reports of energy shortages which might necessitate load-shedding, it was felt that all stakeholders need to come together to look for ingenious ways to avert this threat. He said as the country seeks alternative sources of energy, which the private sector has already begun doing, the gathering felt that there was a need to be mindful and sensitive to the price-points at which these alternatives would be offered.
“Another issue which the gathering felt strongly about was the need for BE to consider matters of climate change as these require urgent attention,” he said.
The CEO added that the energy regulator mentioned that they were in the midst of a regional energy crisis which he said could be overcome by Eswatini as the country is well endowed with biomass which can make it possible for the country to move towards renewable energy at a faster speed.
