Mbabane – His Majesty King Mswati III, through the Minerals Management Board (MMB), has granted a coal mining licence to the Eswatini Electricity Feedstock Company (EEFC), a major step toward the development of the Lubhuku coal project, which is expected to generate up to 1 500 megawatts of electricity for the country.
The newly issued licence, granted for a 20-year renewable lease period, empowers EEFC, a subsidiary of the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) to begin large-scale coal extraction at Lubhuku. The shareholding structure of the project comprises His Majesty King Mswati III holding 25%, EEC holding 50%, and the Government of Eswatini owning the remaining 25%.
EEC Board Chairman said the approval of the licence comes after years of anticipation, expressing gratitude to His Majesty for enabling the long-awaited project to proceed. He said the licence signals a new phase of development, adding that “this licence means let’s go and work,” stressing that the project is expected to create significant employment opportunities for Emaswati.
Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Prince Lonkhokhela, described the licence as “very special,” noting that it has been issued to a state-owned entity. He said the project positions Eswatini to attract new investment, strengthen energy security and stimulate economic growth as the country moves toward electricity self-sufficiency.
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