The construction of a 20 megawatts Tsamela Solar PV Plant worth E500 million in Motshane will create up to 150 jobs.
The project was launched yesterday at Nduma Umphakatsi under Motshane Inkhundla. Princess Sibahle graced the event, with Minister for Natural Resources and Energy Prince Lonkhokhela, acting Chief of Nduma Royal Kraal Princess Salaphi, Motshane Member of Parliament Wilton Nkambule, government and Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) officials were also in attendance.
“I was informed that the construction of this great project will see 150 people being hired. Let me also emphasise that when the time comes to hire people, let it be known that residents of Nduma and neighbouring communities will be prioritised,” the minister said, much to the applaud of Motshane residents who attended the launch.
He stated that this project was a product of government’s determination to see Eswatini become self-sufficient in energy production to a point of being able to export electricity to other countries.
Construction work is expected to begin in January, lasting 18 months. However, the minister said he was giving project developers 15 months. He assured that when the time comes, His Majesty King Mswati III would be the one to officially open the plant.
The project is a collaboration between a foreign company known as Anthem (project developer) and local partners such as the Public Service Pension Fund (PSPF) and Cover All Energy among others. Anthem is responsible for 60% of the investment while local partners share the 40%.
The landmark project is one of five solar PV plants totalling 75MW being developed across the kingdom and according to Anthem Director Gordon, it would reduce dependence on imported electricity by at least 5%.
Gordon said he realised that Eswatini imported way too much energy from other countries, something which makes the country vulnerable to price fluctuations from suppliers.
He said by the end of the project about 40 hectares will be covered in 37 000 glass panels. “During the day, the plant is expected to produce 10% of electricity from solar power” said Gordon before thanking former Motshane MP Robert Magongo for helping them in what he described as ‘many trials’ towards realising the project.
He added in a separate interview that Anthem would invest up to E1 billion for another power production project in Lower Maguduza. He thanked his team and Standard Bank as the main financier of the project.
Meanwhile, ESERA CEO Sikhumbuzo Tsabedze said the Tsamela Solar PV Plant was not simply the start of construction, but the first physical outcome of a deliberate national process to procure local power generation capacity and transition the country towards a more secure, reliable and diversified energy future.
He also explained that the Energy Regulatory Act of 2007 empowered ESERA to regulate electricity supply activities in the kingdom and oversee procurement of new generation capacity in consultation with the minister to ensure security of supply for Eswatini.
“This mandate requires us to reduce the risks associated with dependence on imports and to support generation that costs the least, sustainable and responsive to the country’s development goals,” said the CEO, adding that for many years, Eswatini relied heavily on imported electricity, with exposure to regional hydrological cycles and market price shocks.
“Government took a decisive position to change this trajectory, launching a competitive procurement programme for 75MW of solar PV capacity and today, Tsamela becomes the first of those projects to break ground,” he stated.
Tsabedze pointed out that power procurement is not a single event – it is a journey of technical, commercial, legal and regulatory decision-making. It involves feasibility assessments, land arrangements, environmental compliance, financing structures, power purchase agreements and adherence to national standards.
It is intentionally rigorous because energy assets, once built, must deliver value safely and consistently for decades.
This project is one of five solar PV plants totalling 75MW being developed across the kingdom, including Innovent (10MW) – Nsoko, Voltalia (15MW) – Ndzevane, Sturdee (15MW) – Ngwenya, Sturdee (15MW) – Balekane and Tsamela (20MW) – Nduma — the first to reach launch stage.
