Mbabane – Minister of Natural Resources and Energy HRH Prince Lonkhokhela met with representatives of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Eswatini on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, to discuss potential collaboration in the energy and water sectors.
The Minister outlined Eswatini’s goal to achieve energy self-sufficiency by 2030, targeting 1,500 megawatts of locally generated power, mainly from renewable sources including solar, hydropower, biomass and geothermal energy. He also noted the country is considering a coal-fired power plant to meet baseload demands.
Areas of cooperation under discussion with AFD include funding for power generation projects, grid impact assessments for solar PV systems, battery energy storage solutions, and capacity building for solar technology and policy development. 
In the water sector, Eswatini aims to provide safe drinking water and sanitation for all citizens by 2030. The French Development Agency expressed interest in supporting this objective.
The AFD delegation, led by Country Director Ms. Valérie Alexis, also indicated potential collaboration in Eswatini’s preparations to host SADC Sustainability Week 2027, aligning with the country’s broader development priorities.
