Mbabane – The Industrial Development Company of Eswatini (IDCE) has brought together clients, potential customers and key stakeholders in the energy sector to address a growing number of solar project failures and improve the viability of renewable energy investments in the Kingdom.
The Solar Indaba drew IDCE clients, primarily from the agriculture sector, alongside regulators and industry players in a dialogue aimed at building a more informed and sustainable solar energy market. Key participants included the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA), the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), and agribusinesses such as Tambankulu Estates and Dalcrue Agricultural Holdings.
Discussions covered financing, compliance, licensing, technical standards and the Embedded Generation By-Laws under the Electricity Act of 2007, with sessions aimed at closing persistent information gaps and supporting more informed investment decisions. 
IDCE Chief Executive Officer Fairlie Mabuza said the initiative was prompted by growing concern over the number of solar projects failing to meet projected returns.
“We’ve identified a clear information asymmetry where contractors possess the technical data that project owners often lack,” Mabuza said. “This gap allows for over-specification of unnecessarily expensive projects that ultimately fail to deliver value.”
He said the Indaba was designed to bridge this gap by creating a platform for direct engagement between project owners, regulators and technical experts, particularly on compliance, licensing and system design.
ESERA Electricity Regulation Engineer Ncamiso Nkambule said the engagement comes at a time when rising electricity tariffs are pushing more farmers toward alternative energy sources.
“We are seeing more farmers turning to solar to reduce electricity costs. Our role is to ensure they understand the legal and regulatory processes, including licensing, so they can make informed decisions,” Nkambule said.
The Eswatini Electricity Company provided technical guidance on embedded generation, outlining procedures for integrating solar systems into existing operations. Research and Renewables Engineer Nosipho Simelane said understanding these processes is critical to ensuring compliance and system efficiency.
Industry players also shared practical experiences in adopting solar energy, pointing to both the opportunities and challenges that come with implementation.
Mabuza cautioned that while solar energy presents significant potential, it is not universally applicable to all business models, and urged investors to assess project fundamentals, including financial viability, before committing resources.
“If a project shows signs of negative returns, that should not be ignored but rather used as a basis to refine and improve the project,” he said.
