Africa-Press – Eswatini. ENPC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nhlanhla Dlamini says some progress has been made in the development of the E800 million strategic fuel storage facility at Phuzamoya.
Dlamini was speaking during the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ENPC and Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA). The signing took place at ESERA Communal Boardroom yesterday morning. Dlamini said much of the focus of ENPC during the current strategic period was the development of the facility at Phuzamoya, which would hold enough fuel (diesel and ULP) to last the country for at least 60 days in the event there were supply chain disruptions.
He stated that a lot of background work had been done including financial model (market survey), designs were ongoing and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report had been approved environmental authority. Dlamini mentioned that on this project they were optimistic that funding would be secured soon, followed by the appointment of a contractor and then finally breaking ground before the end of the last quarter of 2023/24. “This projected is estimated to take approximately 30 months,” said the CEO.
He highlighted that the government had intentionally mandated ENPC to improve fuel access in rural areas by licensing retail stations in designated areas which would be identified as key national development areas. “To that end the network survey has been completed and ENPC will be progressing on next steps – this is another area where will need to collaborate with ESERA, as we understand that the full mandate to issue retail rest with ESERA,” said Dlamini.
He stated that ENPC had also been mandated by the Government of Eswatini to be the national blender of fuel so as to reduce the country’s global carbon footprint,” said the CEO. He added that the Phuzumoya strategic fuel reserve facility had been designed to fulfil this mandate; that is the blending of ULP with ethanol. He said ENPC would be working with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy towards seeingthat the draft regulations are approved by Parliament. He said they believed that ESERA would also a key stakeholder on the development of these regulations.
His Majesty King Mswati III cut the sod for this project back in 2013. Speaking during the sod-cutting ceremony, His Majesty expressed gratitude to American Tank and Vessel for bringing a project of this magnitude into the country. He said the project was geared into transforming the lives of ordinary Swazi citizens who stand a chance to get jobs. His Majesty said the project could not have come at a better time because in the past years the country did not have fuel reserves which could sustain it for months.
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