Eswatini's energy consumption
Eswatini, a landlocked kingdom in Southern Africa, has a complex energy landscape characterized by significant reliance on energy imports, primarily from Mozambique and South Africa. As of 2022, the country consumed approximately 1.344 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) while generating only 287,000 kilowatts, resulting in a dependency on imports for more than half of its energy needs. The national electrification rate has made notable progress, with over 82% of the population gaining access to electricity, a substantial increase from just 20% in 2001. Hydropower is the primary source of electricity generation, accounting for over half of the output, followed by biomass and waste.
Eswatini has initiated efforts to enhance its renewable energy capacity through the Eswatini Energy Masterplan, which aims for full energy independence by 2034. While hydropower and biomass play significant roles, the kingdom also explores solar energy, evidenced by the recent establishment of a 10MW solar plant. However, the country faces challenges such as price volatility and reliance on fossil fuels, including coal and petroleum. Additionally, initiatives are underway to promote biogas and reforestation efforts to support household energy needs sustainably. Overall, Eswatini's energy consumption patterns reflect both its challenges and steps towards a more self-sufficient and diversified energy future.
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Eswatini's energy consumption
Official Name: Kingdom of Eswatini.
Summary: Eswatini imports more than half of its energy for domestic and commercial use. Although it produced about 470 kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2008, it consumed nearly three times as much.
Eswatini, formerly the Kingdom of Swaziland, became independent in 1968. Student unrest in the 1990s led to limited democracy and political reforms, but despite enactment of a constitution in 2006, the kingdom has regressed politically. Eswatini has the world’s leading prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS).
Eswatini is the world's last absolute monarchy. In 2022, its installed electricity generating capacity was 287,000 kW, while it consumed 1.344 billion kWh, ranking 156th in the world in the latter category. Eswatini imported more than 914 million kWh. More than 82 percent of the population of about 1.1 million people had electricity. Electrification, especially in rural areas, grew rapidly in the twenty-first century. Access to electricity was just 20 percent in 2001.
The country continues to import energy, mostly from Mozambique and South Africa. Relying on foreign energy leaves Eswatini at the mercy of price fluctuations that are especially difficult for low-income segments of the population.
Much of the energy is from fossil fuels, particularly coal and petroleum. Annual coal production in 2022 was 219 metric tons. The country used 6,000 barrels of imported refined petroleum a day, having none of its own. It has and uses no natural gas. Eswatini's electricity is primarily generated using hydropower (51.2 percent) followed by biomass and waste (41.5 percent). About 7 percent was generated using fossil fuels, while 0.2 percent was generated using solar power.
Renewable Energy
Eswatini's Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy oversees renewable energy, including solar, microhydro, biogas, biomass, wind, and other renewable sources. It is the state link with the Atomic Energy Agency. The kingdom established the Eswatini Energy Masterplan, which includes the goal of producing 100 percent of its own power by 2034.
Hydropower stations first appeared in 1983 at Ezulwini. The national grid has four hydro units owned and operated by the state-owned Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC). The hydropower plants provided 60.4 MW of power in 2024.
Solar has been used in Eswatini since the early 1990s. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Solar Program that ran from 1996 to 2005 installed solar in schools and other key village buildings at a cost of 60,000 euros, including a security system to prevent theft of the solar panels. Eswatini also has solar-powered pay phones, provided by a mobile phone company, and the country uses solar pumps for irrigation, but the systems have to be portable so they can be removed when not in use to prevent theft. In 2022, the government brought a 10MW solar plant online and worked to increase solar power generation.
Wind speeds are on average fairly low, but research on the feasibility of wind in select areas (where wind speeds attain the minimum investment level of 23 feet, or 7 meters, per second) is ongoing. Wind turbines on a small, household scale are viable but cost 10,000 euros. Wind pumps are cheaper to operate than are diesel pumps, but installation can cost as much as $64,000 to $90,500.
Eswatini's three sugar mills use bagasse (depleted sugarcane fiber) for animal feed or to generate steam for heat and electricity generation. Excess capacity was sold to the national grid. For example, in 2022, Ubombo Sugar Limited produced on average 165 GWh of electricity annually using biomass. About 60 GWh was supplied to the national grid under an agreement with EEC. However, to reach the global goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050, Eswatini was not supporting further development of biomass use, which would be subject to carbon taxes. Furthermore, due to global health concerns and the impact of global climate change, sugar production was on the decline by the 2020s.
The government opted to export its coal rather than invest in an anthracite coal power plant. The facility, which had been expected to go online in the early 2020s, would have generated 200 MW of power.
Averting Crisis
Taiwan provided financial aid for a rural electrification program that delivered electricity to homes, schools, businesses, and healthcare facilities, including pump-driven drinking water. The population previously relied on wood for cooking and other household energy needs, but this resource declined significantly. Eswatini is reforesting, establishing communal woodlots and promoting private planting. The government encourages biogas digesters to produce methane for household use.
Eswatini has a goal of becoming capable of exporting energy rather than being dependent on imports. To that end, Eswatini signed an agreement in 2010 with Egypt for the exchange of expertise and encouragement of investment in the Eswatini energy sector.
Bibliography
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Zulu, Phathizwe. "Sweet and Sour Future for Sugar Power in eSwatini." Mail & Guardian, 24 Oct. 2022, mg.co.za/the-green-guardian/2022-10-24-sweet-and-sour-future-for-sugar-power-in-eswatini/. Accessed 12 Aug. 2024.