Analysis of Swaziland sugar industry cogeneration power options

While the price of electricity purchased from South Africa is significantly lower than that of electricity produced by the Swaziland Electricity Board (SEB), the political and economic uncertainties of this dependence make indigenous power development a priority. This study examined ways to increase energy efficiency and generate electricity in Swaziland"s sugar industry. The industry is made up of three estates and factories, each producing 140,000 to 160,000 tonnes of sugar per annum -- Mhlume Sugar Company, Simunye Sugar Estate, and Ubombo Ranches. The three together account for about 25% of the nation"s power utilization. The changes identified at each location consist primarily of equipment modernization which will enhance energy efficiency and take advantage of the additional available energy to generate electricity. One the factories, Ubombo Ranches, could achieve total electricity self-sufficiency (including irrigation power needs) and be able to export power through the use of bagasse fuel only. The other two factories would require the burning of supplemental fuel, such as coal, to achieve electricity self- sufficiency. Further, analysis of the overall economic returns to the country and the financial returns to the individual factories under a range of prices, shows the changes would be both economically and financially attractive at Ubombo and are also generally attractive at Simunye, but are not feasible at Mhlume. (Author abstract, modified)