Eswatini has launched an initiative to achieve sustainable development by harnessing the power of nuclear technology in sectors such as agriculture, health and energy planning. The plan was developed with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The aim of the Country Programme Framework (CPF), launched two weeks ago by Eswatini’s Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Prince Lonkhokhela, is to harness nuclear technology for social and economic development. Its main focus areas are energy security, food security and human health, in line with the country’s National Development Plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework.

Bongekile Matsenjwa, chemical engineer and technical director of the Eswatini National Petroleum Company, believes that the partnership between Eswatini and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can help the country make informed decisions about its energy future.

“Access to clean, affordable and safe, reliable energy is an important part of the country’s sustainable development,” he said. “I believe this partnership can help Eswatini make informed decisions on energy supply options through energy planning, so that the country can … build its national energy future independently.”

Sonia Paiva, a sustainable agriculture expert and nuclear technology advocate who participated as a panelist at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28, believes that Eswatini’s focus on nuclear technology comes at the right time as the country has already set policies on the issue and is now busy implementing them.

“The whole world is asking how we can make our planet a better place to live,” she said.

In addition to the potential benefits for the agriculture and energy sectors, physician Dr. Mduduzi Mbuyisa believes that this technology also has enormous potential to improve the healthcare system in Eswatini.

“Nuclear medicine has the potential to improve our diagnostic capabilities by helping us take clearer pictures and assist us with imaging because we use what are called PET or SPECT procedures that help improve care and the entire health care system,” he said. It will also … help develop new skills and open up new career opportunities.”

Eswatini’s move into nuclear technology is part of a larger trend of African countries seeking to harness the benefits of this technology. Against a backdrop of rising energy demand and climate change concerns, nuclear energy is increasingly seen as a potential solution.