Electricity Sector

Eswatini's electricity is mainly supplied by the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) established in terms of the Eswatini Electricity Company Act, 2007 (Act No. 1 of 2007). The EEC operates under a set of licenses issued by the Authority.

The electricity sector is dominated by the EEC undertaking power generation, importation, transmission, distribution and supply. The EEC owns and operates above 70MW (installed capacity) of power generation stations, amongst which is a 10MW solar PV plant. It also owns and operates a 35kW off-grid solar PV-battery mini-grid that supplies 22 households for pilot purposes. Other key players include co-generators from the sugar industry namely Ubombo Sugar Limited (USL) and the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RESCorp) with installed capacities of 41.5 MW and 65.5MW, respectively. The USL exports some of the generated electricity to the national grid.
 

The sector has also seen an exponential uptake of small-scale embedded generation, predominantly from solar PV mainly for own consumption. In this regard, the Authority has issued licenses and exemptions for a total above 21MW.

The electricity industry structure and its envisaged transition as per the Eswatini Independent Power Producer Policy is as shown below:

KEY STATISTICS

System Maximum Demand Recorded: 233MW 2021/22

Highest Maximum Demand Recorded: 245MW 2019/20

Installed Capacity

Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC)  
     Hydro - 60.5 MW
     Solar PV – 10 MW

Ubombo Sugar Limited (USL)
      Thermal – 40.5 MW
      Hydro – 1 MW

Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RSSC)
     Thermal – 65.5 MW

Wundersight Investments
      Solar PV – 0.1 MW

Small Scale Embedded Generation
      Predominantly Solar PV – 17.4 MW

Energy profile 2021/22
     Local Generation – 624.4 GMh
     Imported Power – 901.5 GWh
     Energy Sent Out – 1527 GWh

Electricity Access (2021/22)
     National Electrification Rate – 85%

Eswatini electrification rate of  (85%). 

The electricity supply industry in Eswatini has undergone changes both from a policy and regulatory point of view. Issues such as the changing global trends towards liberalised energy markets; security of supply; achieving efficiencies; affordability; and access to electricity, amongst others, have introduced a change in the policy trajectory with regards to how Eswatini as a nation views electricity supply.

Overall, the electricity supply industry in Eswatini can be broadly defined as an industry in transition, informed both by policy imperatives and regulatory reform.