Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Republic of China (Taiwan) has played a very instrumental role in making it possible for a majority of Emaswati to have access to electricity.
In the year 2000, Eswatini had only 4% access to electricity and the East Asian island nation has been able to increase that statistic to 70% in around the year 2018. During the Strategic Oil Reserve debate in the House of Assembly, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Prince Lonkhokhela mentioned that Taiwan had been very instrumental in playing the role of ensuring electricity access for Emaswati.
Prince Lonkhokhela was highlighting the significant role played by Taiwan in the development of Eswatini. He was expressing confidence that the Strategic Oil Reserve project would be a success because Taiwan was involved in the project. That country fully supported Eswatini in the project. Prince Lindani, who also participated in the debate, said Taiwan had proven many times that it was a true friend to Emaswati.
He said Taiwan did not only help in electricity access. The island nation also helped the country in sectors such as education, health, technology and other sectors. Prince Lindani thanked His Majesty King Mswati III for establishing and maintaining diplomatic relations with countries such as Taiwan, which went an extra mile in helping Eswatini develop.
Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg also attested to the fact that Taiwan had been largely responsible for the country’s remarkable increased electricity access. Rijkenberg was speaking during his latest #FinanceInFocus episode, where he informs the nation about Eswatini’s financial position. Rijkenberg said in 2003, Eswatini had 5% electricity access and Taiwan managed to increase that to around 70% in 2018.
Rijkenberg said Government had been able to improve from the 70% to 88% in 2024. He said now, Government was working on ensuring that everyone that has no electricity access now should have it. This was done to ensure that by 2030, every Liswati should have electricity access.
Minister Rijkenberg said it could be a bit expensive to cover the remaining 12% because it involved people whose homesteads were not easily accessible. He mentioned that homes which could not be directly connected to electricity would be accessed through what he termed as the ready-made boards, which were going to ensure electricity connection.
He said that was the reason why they tabled two Loan Bills in Parliament of an amount of E1.7 billion, so that it would be possible for the electricity access to be achieved.
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