The Energy Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy has been named Best Energy Efficiency Initiative at the 2026 SADC Sustainable Energy Week Awards of Excellence held in Victoria Falls.
The accolade was awarded in recognition of the RFM Hospital Solar System project, a large scale intervention that has cut electricity costs and strengthened service delivery at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, commonly known as RFM.
RFM is one of the country’s largest referral hospitals and operates around the clock, making it one of the most energy intensive public institutions in Eswatini. Before the intervention, the facility faced mounting power bills, ageing lighting and heating systems, ventilation and air conditioning inefficiencies, as well as strain on the national grid.
To respond to these challenges, Government through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy and the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs partnered with the Italian Government’s former Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea Protection, now known as the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security. The collaboration gave birth to the Greening the RFM Hospital Demonstration Project.
The initiative was financed by the Italian Government at a cost of €2.2 million, equivalent to more than E44 million. It delivered a one megawatt solar photovoltaic system with battery storage, installed energy efficient appliances and decommissioned a coal fired boiler that had powered the hospital’s laundry, kitchen and other critical services.
Implementation was carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy and the Ministry of Health, with technical and oversight support from the United Nations Development Programme.
Since completion, the hospital’s monthly electricity bill has dropped from about E400,000 to under E200,000, generating savings of roughly E200,000 every month. The removal of coal has also led to estimated annual savings of E300,000. Beyond the financial impact, the upgraded system has improved energy reliability, reduced service interruptions and strengthened the hospital’s ability to deliver patient care.
The Minister for Natural Resources and Energy, Prince Lonkhokhela, received the award on behalf of Government during the ceremony in Victoria Falls.
