06/04/2022

Incomati and Maputo River Basin Organisation (INMACOM)

1. Office Assistant
2. Data Processor
3. Driver

 GOVERNMENT  PRESS STATEMENT

FUEL PRICE DECREASE: THURSDAY, MIDNIGHT, 2^ND APRIL, 2020 (EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, 3^RD APRIL, 2020).  

 As part of the Government’s interventions in assisting individuals and the business community cope with the consequences of the economic crisis resulting from the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 and in consideration of the current global markets relative to the sector, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy     hereby informs the public that:

The fuel price shall decrease with effect from Thursday, Midnight, 2^nd April, 2020 (effective Friday, 3^rd April, 2020) as follows; 

Petrol and Illuminating Paraffin prices will decrease by 100 cents per litre whilst Diesel prices will decrease by 80cents per litre.  Therefore the new fuel prices shall be as follows:

• Unleaded Petrol (ULP 95) price will decrease from E13.65/litre to E12.65/litre
• Diesel 50ppm Sulphur (0.005%S) price will decrease from E13.70/litre to E12.90/litre and;
• Illuminating paraffin price will decrease from E9.15/litre to E8.15/litre.

It is Government’s hope that this measure and the others already communicated to the nation will go a long way in mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak to our economy.

The public is urged to always take the necessary precautions and respect the COVID-19 health guidelines as we strengthen the fight against the virus outbreak and its consequences.

SENATOR PETER N. BHEMBE

MINISTER NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY

RELIABLE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY FOR SHISELWENI

Minister for Natural Resources and Energy making his remarks during the launch.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy has officially launched the Network reinforcement and Access Project (NRAP) worth over E700 million. This project will see over 8000 households benefitting The project which is funded by the World Bank was launched by the Minister for Natural Resources and Energy Peter Bhembe. The project will go long way in providing reliable electricity supply, as the country strives to attain SDG7 which calls for ensuring access to modern energy for all by 2030. Minster Bhembe highlighted that the project is in line with their majesties’ vision of a first world status for Eswatini which mandates access to electricity for all Emaswati by 2022. The Shiselweni region had in the past been lagging behind in terms of network upgrades and strengthening. The main aim of the project is to improve the quality of electricity supply in the southern part of the country and facilitate access to electricity. During the implementation of the project, it is envisaged that the project shall have positive spillovers to the region by bringing employment opportunities as well as business opportunities both in the short, medium, and long term. The Minister further highlighted that he was hopeful that the project will be a success and benefit all the various sectors and communities in the Shiselweni region. Furthermore, he thanked the Members of Parliament (MPs) for the support they showed towards the implementation of the project as he averred this would develop the Shiselweni region positively. The NRA project would enable Eswatini to be able to produce adequate supply for the country and also sell it to other countries, similar to what South Africa is doing. The power cuts would be a thing of the past in the region as the project would produce enough electricity for the region. Business Eswatini CEO Nathi Dlamini applauded the ministry and the World Bank for implementing the project in the region as he averred that businesses depended entirely on the availability of electricity. He said this project would attract a lot of investors in the Kingdom as a whole. World Bank Representative Nonhlanhla Zindlela stated that she was happy that the project was at its implementation stage as this meant the country was headed in the right direction in terms of development.

Senate Portfolio Committee Tour Energy Projects

On the 26th February, 2020 the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy Portfolio Committee from the House of Senate toured energy projects in the southern part of the country. The Portfolio committee which was led by Senator Princess Ntfombiyenkhosi who is also Chairperson was hosted by the Hon. Minister for Natural Resources and Energy Senator Peter Bhembe, Ministerial Senior Officials which included the Principal Secretary Winnie Stewart, and Eswatini Electricity Company Executive Managers.

The Portfolio Committee started by visiting the Phuzumoya Strategic Oil Reserve Facility Site. At the site Minister Bhembe stated that plans for securing funding are at an advanced stage and if all goes well the project may commence anytime within the financial year 2020/21.

It is worth mentioning that the Phuzumoya Strategic Oil Reserve Facility is a government project aimed at improving fuel security of supply for the country through storing 30-day fuel stocks. This is mainly aimed at safe guarding the country against unplanned fuel supply disruptions that may hamper economic activity. Ground preparation for the project like fencing the project area, installation of electricity infrastructure, potable and raw water, rail line and tarred access road to the site are all in place.

the Portfolio Committee then proceeded to tour the Ncandweni Substation. Explaining about the project the Managing Director, Meshack Kunene said that the substation, currently under construction once completed will improve and strengthen the electricity output for Ncandweni and surrounding areas, which will see sugar cane farmers under the Lusip II Project benefitting. “This is a huge substation and we are hopeful that it will be completed before the end of this year,” said Kunene.

The Committee proceeded to visit a completed rural electrification project at Lunkuntfu. The project benefited 81 homesteads which were all electrified as well as the Lunkuntfu Community hall and a water pump. The total cost of the project to Government was nine hundred and fifty thousand Emalangeni (E950.000.00)

The tour ended by visiting a site at Qomintaba under Lavumisa where a 10MW Solar PV Project is currently under construction. The project cost IS around E240 million and construction work is proceeding well. The said project is expected to be completed by August this year. The MD stated that as a company they prioritized hiring of locals in all their projects, this was confirmed by the project manager of CONCO Energy Solutions Byron Sancho. “The company has hired about 40 locals and we anticipate hiring more as construction continues, “said Sancho. Making her remarks the Senator portfolio chairperson Princess Ntfombiyenkhosi said they appreciate as a portfolio committee responsible for the ministry to see such big projects under the energy sector which will take the country to a better level in terms of sustainable and energy access for all. “This will not only improve the economy of the country but will also improve the lives of Emaswati,” She said. The chairperson also noted the gender equality as she appreciated the hiring of female Engineers in most of the EEC projects.