Mbabane- The 20MW Tsamela Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Project has achieved finacial close, clearing the way for full-scale construction and marking a key milestone under 75MW First Tranche Solar PV Procurement Programme.
The project, being developed near Ngwenya in the Hhohho Region, is the first under the Kingdom’s 75MW First Tranche Solar PV Procurement Programme to achieve the milestone, according to the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA).
Financial close confirms that all major financing, legal and contractual agreements tied to the project have been completed, allowing implementation to proceed.The Tsamela Solar PV Plant will supply electricity to the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), with construction having started in April this year. Commercial operations are expected within the next 15 months.
Once completed, the plant is expected to produce nearly 48,000 megawatt-hours of electricity in its first year of operation, adding clean energy to the national grid and helping ease pressure on imported power supplies.
In a statemwnt published by Eswatini Energy Regulatory Athourity, the project marked an important breakthrough in the country’s efforts to strengthen energy security, diversify electricity sources and attract private sector investment into power generation.
“The project further demonstrates growing investor confidence in Eswatini’s energy sector and reflects ongoing efforts to create an enabling environment for private sector participation in power generation,” the statement reads.
Eswatini remains heavily reliant on imported electricity, making renewable energy projects increasingly important in reducing supply risks and stabilising long-term energy costs.The solar plant also aligns with the country’s broader sustainability agenda as government and regulators push for increased adoption of cleaner energy technologies.
The regulator thanked financiers, technical teams, government institutions and other stakeholders involved in the project, saying collaboration had been critical in reaching the milestone.” ESERA remaines committed to overseeing the successful construction and commissioning of the project as part of national efforts to expand domestic power generation,” the authority said.
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