MBABANE – The Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RESCorp) has set its sights on a bold target – to achieve E2 billion in net profit by 2030.
According to the company’s 14th Integrated Report, covering the period from April 2024 to March 2025, the new Simama Wenabe +2B 2030 strategy will be anchored on three key themes: Digital transformation, energy diversification and climate-smart agriculture.
These themes, the report states, “will assist the organisation to attain its strategic aspiration of E2 billion profit by the year 2030.”
“The strategic ambition for the period is attaining a net profit of not less than E2 billion by the financial year 2030. This will be achieved by strengthening RESCorp’s current business operations (Kusimama), as well as tapping into new opportunities for diversified products (Kwenaba).
This will be done in a sustainable manner, considering environmental, social and economic factors for the benefit of the company, the society and the country at large,” reads the report.
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Plans to construct Mhlume 10MW solar PV farm
MBABANE – The Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RESCorp) is intensifying its energy management and sustainability drive, with ambitious projects lined up for the 2025/26 financial year.
This will include the construction of the Mhlume 10MW Solar PV farm and further efficiency upgrades across its operations.
According to the corporation’s latest annual report, the upcoming year will mark a critical phase in RESCorp’s energy strategy, which is aimed at lowering operational costs, improving network reliability, and building resilience against climate-induced challenges.
At the heart of this strategy is the 10MW Solar PV farm at Mhlume, a flagship renewable project designed to diversify RESCorp’s energy mix and reduce reliance on imports.
The project has already reached the procurement and contracting stage, with commercial operation scheduled for April 2026.
The solar farm is expected to significantly improve the estate’s long-term energy security, while reducing exposure to volatile energy import costs. RESCorp is also prioritising energy efficiency measures, including the completion of variable speed drive installations on select irrigation pump stations. These drives, scheduled for completion during 2025/26, are aimed at cutting irrigation costs and reducing stress on the power network.
“The implementation of energy-saving technologies is not just about cost reduction,” the report notes, “but also about ensuring the sustainability of operations in the face of growing energy demand.”
Despite a year marked by severe storms, high winds and temperature spikes that strained infrastructure, RESCorp’s network remained resilient. The System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) came in at 24.64 hours – well below the target of 27 hours – thanks to ongoing infrastructure upgrades.
This performance reflects the company’s long-term investment in reinforcing its power lines and systems. The year also saw the successful completion of key infrastructure projects, including power supply for the Volindi Land under cane expansion project, a standby system for the Simunye water treatment plant, and a dedicated supply line for the Distillery plant.
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Digital transformation to drive efficiencies
MBABANE – RESCorp’s report highlights the company’s progress in digitalisation. A major milestone was the migration to the SAP S/4HANA cloud-based ERP system in September 2024.
The system integrates finance, agriculture and production data, enabling real-time insights and more effective decision-making. It also supports precision agriculture by linking field data and weather monitoring with operational planning. The report notes that the transition ‘enhances accountability, improves efficiency and decision-making and supports long-term sustainability.’ Digitalisation is therefore positioned as a central enabler of RESCorp’s 2030 profit target.
Energy diversification is another pillar of the strategy. The company has initiated feasibility studies for a large-scale power generation project, expected to be finalised by March 2026.
The project aims to achieve self-sufficiency in electricity and eventual export to the national grid, leveraging RESCorp’s long-standing experience in generating power from bagasse.
The report emphasises that this development positions the corporation not only as a sugar producer, but also as a potential energy player, contributing to Eswatini’s energy security. A dedicated Board committee has been established to oversee the progress of this initiative.
The report identifies climate change as a major risk factor, with increased rainfall variability and higher temperatures threatening cane yields. To counter these risks, RESCorp is investing in climate-smart agriculture, irrigation efficiency and crop diversification.
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