REMARKS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER FOR NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY DURING the Hand-Over Ceremony of US$650,000-00 for the installation of Solar lighting system At the Nhlangano Health Centre.

PROTOCOL

Programme director
your EXCELLENCY, the AMBASSADOR; thomas j.c. chen.
your ROYAL HIGHNESS – PRINCE HLANGUSEMPHI – HON. MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY (IES)
ESTEEMED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
MEDIA PERSONNEL
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

SPEECH

Your Excellency, I AM GREATLY HONOURED TO BE PART OF THIS very important occasion of the HANDOVER of fUNDS ammounting to us$650,000.00FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) AND LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (LED) LIGHTING SYSTEM AT The nhlangano health centre.

Your Excellency, Solar Photovaltaic panels are known to be good absorbers of solar energy which is renewable; whilst light emitting Diodes are preferred because of their ability to consume less energy compared TO other CONVENTIONAL lamps.

Your excellency, my ministry AND i ARE extremely humbled to once again receive support in the areaS of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Your excellency, AS you are aware, the government of the kingdom of swaziland is very concerned about climate change. this is the reason government has been promoting clean renewable energy and energy efficiency over the decade.

the ministry has finalised the sustainable energy for all (SE4ALL) rapid gap analysis and action plan which emphesizes on doubling the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix by 2022. Hence renewable Energy has been made a priority and the ministry is encouraged that the high energy prices of renewable energy equipment is slowly coming down. YOUR EXCELLENCY, it is my belief that this technology must also benefit all the CITIZENS OF the kingdom.

Your excellency, in august, 2014, My ministry commissioned a 32 kw solar p.v. and l.e.d lighting system at mhlumeni border gate. tHE SYSTEM WAS well INSTALLED despite the CHALLENGING land-use CONDITIONS. i AM GLAD TO REPORT THAT it is PROPERLY functioning. The management of the border gate continues to praise and applaude the ministry on the positive impact of the system in their operations. These accolades DEMONSTRATES that the technology is highly appreciated AND ACCEPTABLE. THIS is so, ESPECIALLY, BECAUSE SOLAR IS A FREE RESOURCE THAT CAN BE ACCESSED BY MANY WITHOUT SPENDING A CENT.

Your excellency, the ministry has received numerous requests from the private sector business community and government ministries/departments to visit the solar DEMONSTRATION projects located at the uniswa – Luyengo campus and the mbabane government hospital (blood Bank). it is honestly gratifying that the purpose of the demonStration projects is being accomplished.

YOUR EXCELLENCY, These projects have proven beyond reasonable doubt that solar technology can be used as an effective and efficient alternative source of energy in the kingdom of swaziland.

Your excellency, TODAY we are comfortably GATHERed HERE to receive yet another donation AMOUNTING TO us$650,000.00for the installation of a 32 KiloWatt (kw) solar PV and L.E.D. lighting system at the Nhlangano health centrE which my ministry accepts heartily and with great appreciation and humility.

Your Excellency thE NHLANGANO HEALTH CENTRE project will include amongst others the construction of a carpot THAT WILL SERVE AS THE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR 120 PV SOLAR PANELS, A battery and control roOM, L.E.D Tubes in THE PATIENTS wards and THE corridors. YOur Excellency, I am confident that the COntractor (Avercom Trading Company) will manage TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT by the stipulated target date of the 31st march, 2015 and that this facility will surely bring a marked difference to the nhlangano health centre’s energy needs.

Your excellency, upon completion of this project in the shiselweni region, the ministry would have achieved one of its major GOALS namely; to construct large scale Solar demonstration projects in the four regions of swaziland. Your Excellency, my ministry could not have DONE THIS TASK WITHOUT your noble support and genuine assistance.

In Conclusion, YOUR EXCELLENCY, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY profound and MANiFOLD THANKS TO THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN AND HER PEOPLE FOR MAKING THESE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR VENTURING INTO RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY TO ENHANCE SECURITY OF ENERGY SUPPLY IN THE kingdom of swaziland.

further, your excellency, the ministry humbly requests the government of the republic of china on taiwan to continue providing this kind of support, as the Ministry now plans to rollout this technology to other government buildings.

I THANK YOU ALL.