In the heart of the Southern African plains lies Eswatini, a small landlocked country formerly known as Swaziland. A nation that has long relied on neighboring South Africa and Mozambique for unsustainable fossil fuel-based electricity imports, renewable energy in Eswatini is quickly diversifying.
The transformative journey culminated at the COP26 conference, where Eswatini committed to an ambitious 50% surge in renewable energy production by 2030. This pledge signifies a crucial step toward Swazi energy independence, bridging the stark urban-rural economic divide and promising new employment and educational opportunities.
The commitment is more than a superficial gesture. In collaboration with private entities and foreign aid programs, the Swazi government is taking crucial and necessary steps to advance its energy infrastructure and deliver power to the 17% of the population (more than 200,000 people) living without it.
By investing in renewable energy and expanding electric connectivity, the government aims to liberate unelectrified Swazi citizens from the energy poverty trap, enabling them to realize their untapped potential. These are the four key sectors of renewable energy in Eswatini that are receiving strategic government investments and support.
In 2020, bioenergy from burning natural materials such as wood and sugar cane waste constituted 97% of the supply of renewable energy in Eswatini. The government issued an Independent Power Producer (IPP) license to Ubombo Sugar Limited (USL), a private sugarcane agricultural company with a 40% government stake, marking a significant milestone in expanding the bioenergy sector.
USL''s connection to Eswatini''s national grid now contributes 31% of local grid-electricity production, pivotal in the country''s impressive 32% point increase in electricity access between 2011 and 2021.
To electrify the whole population, Eswatini initiated the Partnership for Affordable Renewable Energy in Swaziland (PARES) in 2018. Through public-private partnerships (PPPs), PARES aims to promote sustainability in the bioenergy industry while addressing crucial issues such as investment reliability and unemployment, particularly among the country''s marginalized youth.
Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells are increasingly prominent sources of small-scale electricity production in Eswatini. The government actively encourages the adoption of solar panels in residential and commercial buildings to provide both electricity and water heating. Continued innovation drives down PV cell prices, promoting off-the-grid power and easing the strain on electricity imports. This individualized approach empowers rural communities, increasing access to education, health care and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Shifting focus to larger-scale projects, such as the Eswatini Solar-Storage Project by Frazer Energy, by granting IPP licenses is poised to increase electricity access, create jobs and even export power to communities throughout Southern Africa. Additionally, the government-owned Eswatini Electric Company (EEC) completed the Lavumisa Solar PV Plant in 2021. Projects such as these conserve millions of liters of fuel throughout their lifetime and ensure year-round reliable and sustainable electrification for public facilities.
Hydroelectric power currently stands as one of the most prominent energy sources in Eswatini. The EEC operates four hydropower plants, constituting 15% of the country''s electricity production and plans to bolster the existing infrastructure. The EEC and the Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) have expressed interest in conducting feasibility tests and environmental impact assessments on further investment in hydroelectric energy and project expansions.
The government also granted an IPP to Middle Lusutfu Hydropower Ltd., an energy company aiming to increase Swazi hydroelectricity production by more than 20%. These initiatives showcase the government''s endorsement of investments toward long-term economic growth and providing the impoverished with the resources they need to thrive.
While wind energy production in Eswatini is negligible, the country''s mountainous regions hold immense potential for installing wind turbines. Government feasibility studies in the Lubombo Plateau, a largely uninhabited and undeveloped region near the border with Mozambique, are ongoing. No official data from these studies or information regarding international collaboration is publicly available. However, the Swazi government''s engagement with the possibility is a testament to its commitment to energy security and independence.
Through hands-on investment and partnerships with private corporations, the Swazi government exemplifies how emerging economies can electrify their populations with cutting-edge renewable energy technology. There is still much work and foreign investment can accelerate the process. Eswatini offers numerous foreign business incentives, including tax deductions, duty-free imports of machinery and repatriation of profits, ensuring mutual benefits for investors and the Swazi people.
The electrification of Eswatini promises its energy-deprived citizens more than just basic household power. It heralds a new era of economic expansion, immediately offering job prospects in construction and laying the groundwork for internet-driven startups to flourish. Electricity also plays a pivotal role in bolstering health care and education, empowering communities to chart a path towards prosperity. Furthermore, reliable access to electricity will strengthen social bonds, nurturing a sense of belonging and active engagement within the wider Southern African economy.
Eswatini''s energy revolution is a testament to its dedication to sustainability and self-sufficiency. As Eswatini strides into the future with renewable energy, the convergence of local innovation, international collaboration and growth-oriented policies promises to illuminate every corner of the nation. This positions Eswatini as a beacon of inspiration for other developing nations navigating toward a self-reliant future.
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Energy security is essential for any nation''s socio-economic development. Reliable, affordable and sustainable energy supplies power and helps maintain essential services like healthcare, education and public transportation, which in turn foster economic growth, help attract investments and reduce poverty.
Eswatini, a landlocked developing country in southeast Africa, exemplifies the importance of energy security. The country has managed to increase electricity access for its population from 20 percent in 2001 to over 80 percent in 2021, representing one of the biggest advances in energy access in the world. With this success, the country now faces a significant challenge: despite possessing a rich tapestry of conventional and renewable resources, its domestic electricity generation capacity is only 76.5 megawatts, falling far short of its growing demand of 233 megawatts.
As a result, Eswatini heavily relies on energy imports, primarily from South Africa and Mozambique. This dependence exposes the nation to price fluctuations, leading to escalating costs that can become unaffordable for low-income households. It also creates supply uncertainties and increases vulnerability to power shortages in neighboring countries. With the import agreement with South Africa set to expire in 2025, there is an urgent need for Eswatini to transition swiftly towards domestic energy independence.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Eswatini is actively working to increase domestic power generation and diversify its energy sources, with the overarching goal of ensuring energy self-sufficiency by 2030. With UNDP''s support, here are three things the country is doing to achieve that goal:
Eswatini is investing in renewable energy infrastructure and financing for new installations. Governmental initiatives, alongside private sector investments, are focusing on harnessing Eswatini''s abundant renewable energy potential, including hydroelectricity, solar power and biomass. The government is also actively promoting energy efficiency measures to reduce energy demand and consumption across residential, public service, industrial and agricultural sectors.
These efforts not only aim to secure Eswatini''s energy landscape but also provide significant climate action benefits. They align with the country''s climate pledge under the Paris Agreement, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), which lays out Eswatini''s strategy to help limit the global average temperature rise to below 1.5°C.
With its NDC, Eswatini has set its first economy-wide emissions reduction target of 5 percent by 2030 compared to business as usual. To reach this goal, the country plans to increase the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix by 50 percent before 2030 compared to 2010 levels. This will be done by increasing investments in solar, wind, hydro and biomass energy.
This emissions reduction target could be even more ambitious and potentially increase to 14 percent with external financing. Therefore, international collaborations are crucial to help the country increase its climate ambition.
The success of this initiative highlights the benefits of the energy transition and encourages its adoption in other public and private institutions nationwide. It also shows how strategic alignment and international collaboration can simultaneously respond to energy challenges while advancing broader development goals.
Other initiatives are also making a compelling case for leveraging bilateral and other financing, such as the Africa Minigrids Program (AMP), which is improving access to clean and affordable energy in rural communities.
To ensure the long-term scale-up of sustainable energy across Eswatini, it is essential to nurture a generation capable of leading the country''s sustainable future. The renewable energy sector can offer a significant number of jobs for young people. This is a unique opportunity in a country where over 70 percent of the population is below the age of 35 and about 59 percent of young people aged 20 to 24 are unemployed.
Helping youth gain green skills can help address the compounded challenges of slow economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts of climate change, which disproportionately affect young people. Most young people in the country reside in rural areas and are in a unique position to support the local transition to a green and sustainable economy.
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