By Staff Reporter
For many years, rural communities in Matsoaing in the Mokhotlong district did not have power – power to light their homes, and power to influence government to involve them in development.
Now they have both!
The villagers are working with the government and some of its development partners in the construction of a solar mini-grid to provide electricity to their homes. At least two schools, a health centre and a police station have also been connected to the mini grid.
The project has been generously supported with funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to the tune of US$900 000 (about M16.7 million).
OnePower Lesotho Pty Ltd, a clean energy company which won the tender to do the job after successfully completing similar projects in the Southern African region, sourced an additional M150 million from the European Union (EU)’s Electrification Finance Initiative (ElectriFI) and the United Kingdom (UK)’s Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP).
The funds will go towards the construction of 10 mini-grids across the country with a total capacity of providing 1.8 MW of electricity, enough to power three rural villages. Matsoaing is one of them. The others are in Mashai and Sehonghong in Thaba-Tseka, Sehlabathebe and Lebakeng in Qacha’s Nek, Tosing and Sebapala in Quthing, Ketane in Mohale’s Hoek and Ribaneng in Mafeteng.
The mini grids are expected to electrify and benefit about 8 000 households and 40 000 people in selected villages in Lesotho. This intensifies efforts to enhance eco-friendly and sustainable energy use.
The national project also feeds well into the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which calls for universal access to modern energy services. According to the UNDP, only 47 percent of Lesotho’s rural population has access to clean energy sources.
The multi-million maloti Matsoaing project is implemented by the Department of Energy under the Sustainable Energy for All project with support from UNDP Lesotho.
The villagers have contributed land for the mini grid. They are also expected to pay for the connection of electricity into their homes.
UK High Commissioner to Lesotho, Harry MacDonald, hailed the project, saying it would go a long way in ensuring that Lesotho becomes a major user of friendly energy.
Speaking at the launch of the project dubbed ‘Development of Cornerstone Public Policies and Institutional Capacities to Accelerate Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL)’ last week, MacDonald said it also had great potential to bring development to Mokhotlong district.
The initiative is implemented by the department of energy under the Sustainable Energy for All project.
“I’ve always believed in principles behind sustainable energy for all because it makes a difference in people’s lives. This is the start of great things for Lesotho,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, the UNDP resident representative, Dr Jacqueline Olweya urged the private sector to play a more active role in the provision of renewable energy.
Olweya said electricity generated from the grid is expected to improve the standard of education in the district as students would now be able to study at night.
“One Power is doing a great job in providing sustainable energy. We hope to see a marked improvement in final examination results in Mokhotlong,” she noted.
European Union Ambassador to Lesotho, Paola Amadei, also praised the government for embarking on the national sola mini-grid project.
Amadei said the use of renewable sources such as solar energy helps to preserve the environment by replacing fossil fuels such as coal, gas, crude oil, petroleum products and non-renewable wastes.
The green transition would also help reduce the negative impacts of climate change and make energy more affordable to Basotho, she said.
Amadei added that Lesotho had plenty of natural resources which could help it reduce its dependence on energy imports. Lesotho imports some of its electricity from South Africa and Mozambique.
One Power Pty Ltd was founded by Matthew Orosz, a US citizen who first came to Lesotho as a Peace Corps volunteer in 2000 and served up to 2002.
Living in the Phamong village without electricity inspired him to take up a career in designing energy infrastructure solutions.
He first founded STG International, a non-profit dedicated to energy access and technology transfer. In 2015, he founded OnePower, a for-profit but socially motivated business.
“Since 2015 the primary goal of OnePower has been working to attract investment to the renewable energy sector in Lesotho to make energy access projects a reality for these communities.
“As a social enterprise, a major portion of OnePower’s profits are reinvested to maximise our ability to provide quality services to off-grid communities at affordable costs,” OnePower says on its website.
