REMARKS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER FOR NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE SIPHOFANENI ELECTRICITY SUB-STATION.

 

• MASTER OF CEREMONY
• LUBOMBO REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR
• BOBABE TIKHULU
• YOUR EXCELLENCY THE AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN
• MANAGING DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE SWAZILAND ELECTRICITY COMPANY
• BANTFU BASE-SIPHOFANENI
• MNRE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
• GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
• LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

 IT IS AN HONOUR FOR ME TO BE PART OF THIS OCCASION, WHERE WE LAUNCH A PROJECT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN OUR LIVES.

 I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT AND THE ENTIRE LEADERSHIP OF SIPHOFANENI INKHUNDLA FOR ALLOWING THIS DEVELOPMENT TO TAKE PLACE.

 I WOULD LIKE TO FURTHER EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAMME, WHICH HAS GREATLY IMPROVED ELECTRICITY ACCESS TO MANY COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY. I AM INFORMED THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS SUBSTATION WILL COST CLOSE TO E17MILLION. THIS IS, INDEED, A VERY IMPORTANT INVESTMENT FOR THE AREA.

 I AM EQUALLY GRATEFUL TO THE SWAZILAND ELECTRICITY COMPANY FOR AVAILING THEIR TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUBSTATION. I ALSO WISH TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR VIGILANT EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THE COUNTRY HAS A STABLE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY NETWORK.

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE PROJECT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED BY A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR TO AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD IN ORDER TO IMPROVE ELECTRICITY RELIABILITY IN THIS AREA AND ITS SURROUNDS, PARTICULARLY ALONG THE MANZINI-SIPHOFANENI CORRIDOR. THIS IS, INDEED, IN LINE WITH HIS MAJESTY’S WISH TO ATTAIN WORLD CLASS STANDARDS BY THE YEAR 2020. THIS PROJECT WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THESE AREAS THROUGH IMPROVED:

• QUALITY OF SUPPLY, AND
• RELIABILITY OF ELECTRICITY

I AM POSITIVE THAT WHEN COMPLETE, THIS PROJECT WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANSION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS;

 SIPHOFANENI, HLUTSE, DUZE, PHONJWANA, DVOKODVWENI, TIMBUTINI, JOY MISSION AND MACETJENI.

 AN IMPROVED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WILL TRANSLATE TO MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO COMPLEMENT THE LUSIP DEVELOPMENT BY STRENGTHENING POWER SUPPLY IN THE AREA.

 THE PROJECT ALSO BRINGS WITH IT SOME TEMPORARY JOBS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD THROUGH THE EMPLOYMENT OF LOCAL PEOPLE, WHERE NON-SPECIALISED SKILLS ARE REQUIRED.

 ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE LEADERS OF THE AREA AND THE COMMUNITY FOR PROVIDING LAND FOR THE PROJECT. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE BOARD, MANAGEMENT AND STAFF OF THE SWAZILAND ELECTRICITY COMPANY FOR MAKING TECHNICAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS SUBSTATION. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IN THIS AREA AND ITS SURROUNDS WILL BE MORE RELIABLE THAN EVER BEFORE.

 I THANK YOU.

 GOD BLESS YOU ALL.