Thermal power to solve energy crisis - minister
EZULWINI – The Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Prince Lonkhokhela, says thermal power will solve Eswatini’s energy crisis.
The minister said this despite the global protestations and international treaties against the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity.
Prince Lonkhokhela said this during the 2024 Earth Hour launch and symposium. He said those who were against Eswatini’s production of thermal power should clearly state where emaSwati must get electricity from to stabilise the base load.
The minister referred to a presentation that was made by the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) Managing Director (MD) Earnest Mkhonta, where he outlined the country’s progress towards the Eswatini Energy Master Plan 2034. Mkhonta highlighted six areas of development since the compilation of the master plan.
Construct
He mentioned that the kingdom had managed to construct the Lavumisa 10 megawatts (MW) Solar Power Project, signed the power purchase agreement for the lower Maguduza 13.5MW; commenced the development of the Maguga expansion 10MW project; conducted a coalfired thermal power plant 300MW feasibility study; was conducting a gas-fired combined cycle power plant 246MW feasibility study, as well as conducting development activities such as land acquisition for the sourcing of gas suppliers and the mine development.
The MD stated in his presentation that the local power generator would continue producing thermal power to balance the energy base load. He noted that hydropower and solar energy were not producing enough electricity, due to limitations. He noted that hydropower could be produced twice a day, three hours in the morning and the afternoon, since they could not release the water to turn the turbines that produced the power throughout the day. He added that hydropower also relied on water levels. Mkhonta further mentioned that solar energy was solely dependent on the availability of the sun.
“Solar is intermitted and can only be produced during the day, when there is sunshine, while hydro can to look at the feasibility of using 300MW of coal as a resource of power supply. However, we are not going to be irresponsible on that project,” he said.
Mkhonta said they would employ the best technologists to lead it, so that they do not stray very far from the target. He said they were looking at other technologies that would supplement the coal power station and work towards phasing it out by 2050.
The minister acknowledged the MD’s honesty on the power and energy status of the country. He challenged the MD to also scale up the Lavumisa Solar Power plant to generate at least 100MW.
The prince went on to acknowledge that the world was against the production of energy using coal. He, however, wondered how countries like Eswatini could shy away from using coal, when it is the only alternative to increase their energy base load.
Utilise
“Nine bekunene umhlaba uyakhala ngale-coal kepha tsine Nkulunkulu ngulasiphe kona nyalo. Siyayidzinga le-coal, instead siyitsatsa siyoyinikalamave lasitjela kutsi singayisebentisi. Sisetawucala natsi sibuke kutsi sitfolani (Ladies and gentlemen, the world is against thermal power that is generated using coal, but what can we do as Eswatini because coal is what God gave us? We need to utilise the coal, instead, we mine the coal and sell it to developed countries, which are the very same countries that discourage us from using it. We will look into how we can utilise our coal to produce energy),” he said.
The minister said the good thing was that there were technologies that could be employed in the production of thermal power, to reduce carbon emissions drastically. He said Eswatini needs electricity for domestic use and more for industrial use. The minister added that most companies opted not to invest or start businesses in Eswatini because of the poor base load.
“Let us produce more electricity with the coal God gave us. Longafuni sente gezi ngemalahle kutawufuna asinike logezi lofanele kutsi sitomtfola kuphi ke, loku sakuphiwangu Nkulunkulu,” he said.