Eswatini will host South Africa’s Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, this week for a series of high-level discussions aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and ensuring long-term energy stability for both countries.
The bilateral discussions, scheduled for November 28-29, 2025, take place as Eswatini seeks to balance rising local electricity demand with limited domestic supply. South Africa, via Eskom, remains a crucial provider of power and frequency control services, making the upcoming talks essential for tackling tariff pressures, supply issues, and changing energy needs.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, the visit continues the ongoing strategic dialogue between Minister Ramokgopa and Eswatini’s Minister of Natural Resources and Energy.
The discussions will focus not only on power purchasing arrangements but also on broader cooperation in energy development, skills transfer, and investment in emerging technologies.
The high-level meeting will address several priority issues, including:
• Deepening cooperation in the electricity sector, with emphasis on long-term planning and supply stability.
• Electricity infrastructure development, including opportunities emerging from the G20’s focus on Africa.
• Current developments relating to MOTRACO, the cross-border transmission utility jointly owned by Eswatini, Mozambique, and South Africa.
• Broader regional challenges, with an emphasis on the Southern African Power Pool and SADC energy matters.
Eswatini has made measurable progress in attracting private sector investment into renewable and conventional energy generation. However, the gap between local energy production and consumption remains significant. Since Eskom supplies a large part of Eswatini’s power needs, tariff fluctuations and load-management decisions in South Africa directly impact the country’s energy security.
The visit, therefore, offers a platform to reaffirm commitments, deepen cooperation, and explore new partnership avenues beyond traditional power purchase agreements. Focus areas include technical knowledge exchange, training opportunities, and joint investments in new-generation technologies.
Minister Ramokgopa will lead a senior delegation including Jacobus de la Rouviere, Advisor to the Minister; Elizabeth Marabwa, Chief Director of Energy; Makhosonke Buthelezi, Head of Communications; Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson; Princess Nxumalo, Protocol; and Monde Bala, Chief Executive Officer of NTCSA (ESKOM).