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By Kwanele Dhladhla
In its quest to decentralise services to ensure efficient service provision to all Eswatini citizens, regardless of their location, the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) has partnered with Eswatini Post and Telecommunications (EPTC) to allow the citizenry to access ESERA services, which include the filing of license applications at any of their 36 centres nationwide.
ESERA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sikhumbuzo Tsabedze, explained that the essence of their partnership was that Emaswati lacked access to ESERA services.
He explained that the main services which they offer as ESERA were to ensure that Emaswati have access to licenses, particularly to the regulated items, which are electricity and petroleum, which they use day-to-day.
Therefore, it remains important that they have access to these services since they form part of their daily lives.
“Essentially, I think the partnership is to say, we want to increase our footprint, but we cannot open offices across the country. Therefore, to allow that access, we have used EPTC’s footprint across the Kingdom, because then Emaswati would be able to get the same access they would receive at our head office in Mbabane in any other rural area.
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So effectively, Emaswati can now make applications with any outlet across the country at EPTC,” Tsabedze said during the signing ceremony, which was convened at the Mountain View Hotel on Friday.
When explaining what the licenses that Emaswati should apply for were, he said it was essentially all the licenses they offer.
“When it comes to electricity, that is the generation license, transmission license, distribution license, import license, and export license. When it comes to petroleum, they can apply for a wholesale license, and they can also apply for a retail license together with a commercial license,” Tsabedze stated.
He added, “That is typically if you own a fleet of transport and you have your fuel tank, we call that a commercial license. Then the other two licenses that they must apply for is a wholesale license for LPG, commonly known as handigas, and LPG can be for both wholesale and retail.
So, all these licenses and license forms are now available at any EPTC outlets. So, people have been asking, I am looking at setting up a filling station, where do I start? Simply go to EPTC, you can find the forms from there now.”
EPTC Acting Chief Postal Officer, Sabelo Dube, explained that in 2023, EPTC and ESERA formalised a strategic relationship through the signing of a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), laying the foundation for a collaborative partnership aimed at enhancing public access to energy regulatory services across Eswatini.
Under this partnership, Dube said EPTC it was agreed that EPTC would serve as a delivery and communication channel for ESERA, facilitating both incoming and outgoing correspondence between the authority and its customers.
He mentioned that this initiative was designed to decentralise ESERA’s services, making them more accessible to citizens in all regions of the country.
Dube said EPTC was committed to delivering services that include access to ESERA forms.
“All ESERA application forms will be made available at all post offices. EPTC staff will assist customers in completing forms and provide guidance or connect them with ESERA officers when needed,” Dube pledged.
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He mentioned that post offices could now also serve as document drop-off points for ESERA, and then all collected documents would be delivered to ESERA’s offices.
“This partnership represents a significant step toward making the Eswatini Post Office instrumental in decentralising social services. The partnership will enhance service delivery, improve regulatory access, and strengthen public engagement in the energy sector. It aligns with both organisations’ commitment to innovation, accessibility, and customer-centric service,” said Dube.
The Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority, ESERA, is a category A public enterprise that was established in terms of the Energy Act of 2007.
The authority was mandated to administer the Electricity Act, 2007 (Act No.3 of 2007), with the primary and core responsibilities of exercising control over the electricity supply industry (ESI) and ensuring the security of supply of electricity through the issuance of licences and the regulation of electricity tariffs and quality of supply and services.
ESERA also administers the Petroleum Act of 2020, through the licensing and inspection of downstream activities.
