Times Of Swaziland: MONTIGNY PIONEERING RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS

MONTIGNY PIONEERING RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS
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Nhlanganiso Mkhonta on 02/12/2024 13:05:00


MBABANE – Montigny Investments has made significant strides towards commencing
its 40 megawatts (MW) renewable energy that will see the country gaining
momentum towards running on 100 per cent renewable energy.
In an interview with this publication, Montigny Investments Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) Andrew Le Roux said the company is working tirelessly to make a
significant contribution to the nation’s ambitions towards renewable energy.
Le Roux said it is imperative for the country to have sufficient renewable
energy to produce its goods. The CEO said from 2027, the country’s exports to
the United States of America (USA) and European Union (EU) will become limited
if it is not produced using renewable energy.
“We are going to be penalised,” said Le Roux. The CEO shared the progress
towards the company’s proposed renewable energy project. Le Roux said they
have completed their feasibility study, as their application was submitted at
the end of last year to the regulator, the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority
(ESERA). He said they have been engaging with the regulator on some regulatory
requirements and tariffs, and final discussions in this regard have been held.
Bid
He said they are now waiting for their bid approval from ESERA, giving the
preferred bidder. “But we are under pressure as we got until the end of this
month to get our bid. If we do get that, we can then be able to get into our
full financing and EEC contract. We shall then be able to reach financial close
by next year, September,” he said. Le Roux said Eswatini has the potential to
run on 100 per cent renewables by harnessing the vast local resources available.
Last year, the CEO highlighted that Elèctricitè de France (EDF) was
shortlisted in the ESERA Biomass RFQ bidding round of 40MW of renewable
electricity. Le Roux said Montigny Investments was in partnership with EDF on
the project. He said the project is currently undergoing various feasibility
studies, with the aim to submit a final bid in the final quarter of 2023.
According to the Montigny Group CEO, timber biomass and residue will be used to
generate electricity. “All of this will be sourced from Montigny’s current
operations,” said Le Roux.
He assured the nation that the project is carried out to the highest
environmental standards, with oversight provision by the Eswatini Environment
Authority (EEA). He further said Montigny is fully certified by the Forestry
Stewardship Council.