Times Of Swaziland: EEC FINDS PARTNER FOR NEW  MULTIBILLION  POWER STATION

EEC FINDS PARTNER FOR NEW  MULTIBILLION  POWER STATION
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Mfanukhona Nkambule on 12/01/2025 08:19:00


MBABANE – The Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) has taken a decisive step
towards bolstering the nation’s energy infrastructure by selecting a reputable
partner to develop a 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired thermal power station.
It has been confirmed that this 300MW facility will be sufficient to meet
Eswatini’s base load electricity demand, which currently stands at 260MW. In
conjunction with this initiative, EEC will collaborate with a partner to
establish a coal mining operation at Lubhuku, Mpaka in the Lubombo Region, the
designated site for the power plant.
The Mpaka Coal Mine, which has been inactive since 1992, will be revitalised as
part of this project. Though the identity of the partner is known to this
publication, it will remain undisclosed at the request of EEC, which cited
ongoing internal procedures.
This endeavour follows an extensive bidding process involving both domestic and
international companies.
An estimated E16 billion is required to develop a facility of the necessary
capacity to serve the country’s needs.
This plant is integral to EEC’s long-term strategy to enhance local
electricity production and decrease Eswatini’s reliance on imported power.
With its significant generation capacity, the plant is set to become the largest
electricity-producing facility in Eswatini once it becomes operational. In
related developments, EEC has filed a request with the Eswatini Energy
Regulatory Authority for a tariff increase exceeding 52 per cent to gather over
E8.7 billion from consumers over two years.
More than half of this amount is earmarked for the purchase of electricity from
South Africa’s Eskom and other suppliers.  The Regulator is anticipated to
announce a decision by February 1, 2025, on whether to grant the full requested
increase or a portion thereof.