MBABANE – Prince Lonkhokhela has urged investors to consider Eswatini’s mining and energy sectors as strategic entry points for economic transformation and job creation.
Speaking Thursday at the Eswatini Investment Conference hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Trade, the Minister said the country’s mineral wealth and energy potential remain largely untapped and present viable investment opportunities.
Addressing a hall of potential investors and government officials, Prince Lonkhokhela said mining holds the promise of unlocking new sources of foreign revenue and employment for emaSwati. He described it as a sector capable of driving large-scale industrial growth through the exploration and export of mineral commodities.
He also pointed to the energy sector as a second pillar of economic expansion. “The energy sector has the potential to fuel industrialisation and job creation,” he said, referencing Eswatini’s plan to strengthen energy security and diversify its power sources.
According to the Minister, government-backed projects currently in development include hydro power generation, geothermal energy, coal thermal energy, and wind power. These, he said, form the backbone of Eswatini’s push toward sustainable energy solutions that can attract long-term private investment.
Prince Lonkhokhela also outlined a range of regulatory frameworks aimed at attracting investors to the country’s energy market. These include a Wheeling Framework that allows third-party use of the transmission grid, a Small-Scale Embedded Generation Framework for local power producers, and newly developed Energy Storage Guidelines to help stabilise renewable energy inputs into the grid.
He told investors that Eswatini’s Grid Code sets clear technical requirements to ensure efficient and safe operation of the national electricity system, making it easier for new entrants to participate.
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