By Ncaba Ntshakala
The Minister for Natural Resources and Energy Prince Lonkhokhela welcomed the World Bank Country Director Satu Kahkonen and her delegation during a courtesy visit aimed at reinforcing the Bank’s commitment to Eswatini’s development agenda.
The high-level discussions revolved around ongoing collaborations in the energy and water sectors while also exploring potential support for the land sector, signaling an expanded partnership between the Kingdom and the international financial institution.
Kahkonen was accompanied by key World Bank representatives, including Lead Energy Specialist Mirlan Aldayarov, Country Representative Ike Okorie, Senior Country Economist Marko Kwaramba, and Senior Public Sector Specialist Joana Watkins.
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In a statement shared by the Ministry, their visit expressed the Bank’s continued engagement in Eswatini’s strategic development priorities, particularly in infrastructure and public sector governance.
During the meeting, the delegation emphasized the World Bank’s willingness to further strengthen technical assistance, with Kahkonen announcing the planned dispatch of land management experts to conduct a fact-finding mission.
This initiative aligns with the government’s major efforts to enhance land governance, promote efficient resource allocation, and support long-term sustainability goals.
One of the major highlights of the discussions was the World Bank’s approval of funding for Eswatini under the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Transition (ASCENT) project.
The initiative has been hailed as it marks a milestone in the country’s energy agenda, serving as a catalyst for achieving universal energy access by 2030.
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The Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy has prioritized energy expansion as a fundamental pillar of economic growth, and the newly secured funding is expected to fast-track electrification programs,
enhance grid resilience, and promote clean energy solutions that will benefit communities across the country. Under the ASCENT project, over 200 000 emaSwati as set to benefit with electrification.
