Mr Sengiphile Simelane
Mr Sengiphile has worked in the energy sector for over 20 years. He has experience managing projects dedicated to addressing the development challenges of low- and middle-income countries within the SADC region. Electricity generation, transmission and distribution, network maintenance, business case development, energy policy, climate change adaptation, distributed renewable energy systems, nuclear power, national and sub-national energy planning, strategy development, and leadership are among his technical and operational expertise.
He previously led Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), one of the country’s largest state-owned companies. Furthermore, he mobilized the first grid-connected solar PV project aimed at addressing the country’s security of supply challenge using renewable sources such as solar PV. Through the rural electrification program, he played a significant role in increasing access to electricity for the citizens of the country. He spent over 10 years at South Africa’s power utility Eskom, where he started as an engineer in training and ended as chief engineer for the nuclear programme. His other work experience includes the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR), Total Facilities Management Company (TFMC), and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), where he was programme manager for the Energy Autonomous Campus Program.
In addition, he provided leadership and strategic direction for Maloma Colliery, a coal mine in Eswatini. As CEO of the coal mine, he successfully implemented a turnaround strategy that led to the mine’s return to profitability.
At present, he is pursuing an MBA at Wits Business School, and he has an MSc and BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, obtained in 2002 and 2000 respectively. Additionally, he holds a Certificate in Global Management from INSEAD and registered with ECSA as a professional engineer.
