Rolling blackouts hit Swaziland

MBABANE – Swaziland is experiencing its first load-shedding rolling blackouts in the wake of Eskom’s demand last week that the country’s purchase of electricity it imports from SA be reduced by more than 20%. “The SEC (Swaziland Electricity Corporation) realises it cannot achieve this target alone and needs a concerted effort and participation of the corporate sector,” said Swaziland Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Princess Tsandzile. Swaziland imports 90 megawatts of electricity from South Africa daily. Eskom wants that reduced by 20 megawatts at least through the end of this month. Rolling blackouts lasting one hour and longer commenced without warning on Sunday evening. Mbabane, the commercial hub Manzini, and the Matsapha Industrial Estate have been affected. Swaziland depends on Eskom for over 90% of its electricity. Swaziland’s textile industry is particularly vulnerable to power fluctuations. Garmentmaking machinery is in operation on a 24- hour-a-day basis, and company managers say the machines are too large to be powered by back-up generators because of the expense of diesel.