Neo Kolane
A multi-million maloti project that seeks to produce hydrogen energy has been dismissed by some sections of Basotho as a chicanery to strip Lesotho of its natural resources.
Detractors say the Metsi ke Bophelo initiative is nothing but a scheme to siphon the country of huge amounts of money, and that its engagement had flouted public procurement regulations.
Speaking at a press conference in Maseru on Wednesday this week, a group of disgruntled youth said they were against the project as it was being led by foreign companies whose only interest is profits.
They accused the four firms behind the project – Singamati, Nexus Water Academy and Masetau Consulting Engineers and Mitochondria Energy – of trying to form their own water authority so that they are not held accountable if anything goes wrong. The firms are all from South Africa.
The owners of the four companies have shares in Metsi ke Bophelo (PTY) LTD, a local company that is spearheading the project.
Metsi ke Bophelo (PTY) LTD was launched on July 5, 2023 in Maseru. It was only registered on Wednesday last week (September 6 2023).
Hardly a week after its registration, the company has already come under fire for ‘trying to pull a fast one on Basotho’.
The youth warned that there would be water inequality in the country if the firm proceeds with its plans to start the hydrogen project.
Speaking in July during a press briefing to announce the hosting of the Hydrogen and Water in a Digital Future Conference to be held next month, the director of Mitochondria Energy, Mashudu Ramano, said the expo is the start of a long journey towards making Lesotho ‘great again’.
Ramano said the three themes of the project are: Water for life, water for green economic growth and development and water for human capital development.
He noted that by embracing hydrogen, Lesotho would be in a better position to deal with changes in climate and use of cleaner energy.
“The ministries of public works, energy and health have been engaged in this national strategy,” he added.
Ramano also explained that about M40 million would be used to pilot the project at Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital in Maseru. He did not say when this would be done.
He further indicated that hydrogen would be used to drive incinerators at hospitals across the country where gas is being used.
At the same launch, Prime Minister Samuel Matekane said the time has come for Lesotho to awaken from its slumber and unleash the full potential of its water, hydrogen and most importantly, its people.
“I want all of you to take a moment to focus on the immense potential of our hydrogen endowment. Hydrogen extracted from water possesses the greatest power in the universe. We you look at the great expanse of the night’s sky what you see is hydrogen,” he noted.
“The most successful economies in the world have one thing in common – they take time to assess, evaluate and decide to use their nature given endowments to drive their development potential.
“Water is crucial in sustaining life, agriculture and supporting vital industries. Its usefulness cannot be overstated,” he added.
Matekane also indicated that hydrogen energy is clean and renewable, and its regeneration holds the key to a sustainable future – “what most people are now calling the hydrogen economy”.
With Lesotho’s abundant water endowment, Basotho have the unparalleled opportunity to spearhead and fuel the nation to greater heights of development, he added.
But the distressed youth and others are far from impressed.
“People in remote areas who already have low costs of living will find themselves not having access to water because the foreign companies aim to make profits that benefit them and not Basotho,” they claimed.
The project which will be led by foreign nationals; Mashudu Ramano, Rendani Ramano, Boithabiso Moloi and Tlhalefo Moloi who are also directors of Metsi Ke Bophelo (Ltd) (Pty).
The chairman of the parliamentary committee of natural resource, Moeketsi Motṥoane, told this publication that he is aware of the upcoming Water and Hydrogen in Digital Future Conference and Expo conference to be held at Manthabiseng Convention Centre.
Motṥoane said what he still does not understand is what is going to happen after the companies sponsor the conference, and why they were chosen.
He pointed out that he can’t comment further on the project because he does not have enough information.
“During the launch of the expo on the 5th July, I received a call from the principal secretary of the ministry of natural resources inviting me to the launch, but it was short notice, so I did not attend,” Motṥoane said.
A member of the parliamentary committee of natural resources, Lebohang Hlaele, said they had not discussed anything concerning the project.
“We can therefore, not advise the government,” he told theReporter in a brief interview yesterday.
For his part, renowned economist, Majakathata Mokoena explained that the problem with the project is its control.
Mokoena explained that some countries have utilities to oversee the establishment and operations crucial for everyone’s rights like water and sanitation, and electricity.
“Such utilities must be controlled by the government in order to benefit the country and all the people,” he noted.
Mokoena said in as much as he believes that the programme brought by the private companies could be important, the regulation and control of water should be done by the Lesotho Water Authority (LEWA).
He said if LEWA is central to the project, it means the benefit of the water will go to Basotho because all the money will go into the government fiscus.
“If it is a private company, the money will leave the country and we will never see it again. It will not benefit in the efficiency management of water nor economically benefit the rest of the population,” Mokoena said.
“If Lesotho can make energy completely out of clean renewable resources, it means the country can trade the rights to polluting places like South Africa and China for the sake of money. But this can’t be done if the water is controlled by a local institution like LEWA.”
Mokoena warned that the sponsors of the project could be positioning the country into a clear-cut state capture.
“Economically it will benefit a few people and the foreigners that are close to the project,” he said.
One of the organisers of the October 12-13 conference, Retṥelisitsoe Theko, said the gathering is intended to start a conversation on how Lesotho’s water can benefit Basotho.
“Experts in water, people who have a broader knowledge about water, people who can invest in water and hydrogen project and development partners from the World Bank are set to attend the conference.
“The expo is going to benefit Basotho because for the first time, Basotho can think creatively how they can monitor this water we are endowed with,” he added.
