Thursday, 26 September 2024
News — AMP Eswatini moves to develop and install the Bulimeni Minigrid
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AMP Eswatini is moving to develop and install a minigrid in Bulimeni under the Nkwene Inkhundla which is its second pilot under the program. This is owing to the implementation of key steps towards its installation in the past month which include the commencement of a geospatial analysis and tendering process for the minigrid. These activities include a workshop that was held in Mbabane in August 2024 as a progress update to energy stakeholders on the geospatial modelling exercise for the Bulimeni minigrid.
Speaking at the workshop the Research and Renewables Engineer from the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), Nozipho Simelane Dlamini who is in the Technical Working Group for the geospatial modelling exercise outlined how a situational analysis was conducted for the Bulimeni minigrid by the Technical Working Group for the exercise who include the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy (MNRE), Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA), Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), and the Central Statistics Office (CSO). She further outlined how the findings were incorporated into an inception report that she presented at the workshop and called for all stakeholders present to share their inputs on the report post the workshop, to enable the implementation of the next steps of the geospatial modelling exercise. These include assessments, review and preparation of datasets, a geospatial analysis, site visits and observations and the development of a demand analysis before a second stakeholder review of the findings. Following the endorsement of the geospatial report, it will be signed off as the AMP moves to the next stages towards the development of the minigrid.
The geospatial modelling exercise is a crucial process in the development of Pilot 2 of the project as it will help define the geographic scope of the areas surrounding the targeted minigrid site location, assess available resources and size the planned minigrid system. Moreover, it will help select the configuration of the minigrid, design the distribution system, and look into rural electrification plans and other potential grid expansion or power projects that may impact the viability of the Bulimeni minigrid in the future.
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In addition to the geospatial modelling exercise, AMP Eswatini also sent out letters of call for Expression of Interest to suitably qualified and experienced private mini-grid developers to indicate their interest in designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the Bulimeni Solar PV-Battery minigrid system for the next twenty years. Thereafter, a workshop was held with prospective bidders for any enquiries and to outline the tender application procedure for the Expression of Interest which will subsequently lead to the shortlisting of candidates for the tender.
These important steps outline the momentum that the program is taking towards the development and installation of the Bulimeni minigrid which will be developed as a greenfield solar PV battery minigrid. The development of this pilot where the AMP will provide a 45% subsidy on the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) for the development of the minigrid whilst the private developer will provide 55% of the CAPEX expenditure will also demonstrate the potential role of private sector players in the development of solar technologies such as minigrids.
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