Ministry of Natural Resources or Ministry of Energy, Meteorology and Water Affairs
The Ministry of Energy, Meteorology and Water Affairs of Lesotho is responsible for providing the overall vision and political direction of the energy sector. The Department of Energy acts as the technical arm of the Government on energy matters that include policy and strategy formulation and coordination of energy sector activities.
Lesotho Electricity Authority (LEA)
From August, 2004 until April, 2013 the Authority was mandated with regulating the electricity sector. In 2007 the Government decided that the Lesotho Electricity Water Authority (LEWA) should be transformed to be a multi-sector regulatory body assuming additional powers to regulate urban water and sewerage services in the country. LEWA officially started regulating both electricity and urban water and sewerage services sector on May, 2013. The Authority independently deals with matters such as electricity pricing, complaints handling and resolution and the supervision of the implementation of the Quality of Service and Supply standards (QOSSS) by its licensees.
There are other Ministries or agencies with overarching influence over the energy sector: Ministry of Development Planning; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Mining; Ministry of Public Works and Transport; Water Commission; and Lesotho Revenue Authority.
Public Entities
Lesotho Electricity Corporation (LEC)
Lesotho Electricity Corporation (LEC) generates, transmits, and distributes electricity. The company also owns and operates hydro power stations. LEC is wholly owned by the Government of Lesotho (GoL).
Basotho Enterprises Development Corporation (BEDCO)
The Basotho Enterprises Development Corporation (BEDCO) is a parastatal of the Government of Lesotho. The primary responsibility of the Corporation is the establishment and development of Basotho-owned enterprises. The main focus of BEDCO has been on entrepreneurial capacity building to promote the development of entrepreneurship in Lesotho. BEDCO has formal working relationships with both local and international business support stakeholders.
Appropriate Technology Section
The Appropriate Technology Section (ATS) of the Ministry of Communication Science and Technology, an institution that was mandated to undertake appropriate technology research, the development and application of these technologies, and the dissemination of economically viable results thereof.
Independent Power Producers
Lesotho Highlands Power Project
In November 2011, Lesotho revealed plans for the Lesotho Highlands Power Project, under which a 10 gW renewable energy power-plant will be built. Unnamed Chinese firms will provide loans to finance about 80% of the project which is expected to cost 110 billion ZAR. Equity for the project will come from Breeze Power, a joint venture between the Lesotho government and South Africa’s Harrison and White Investments. Of the 10 gW of power, 6 gW will come from wind energy, and 4 gW will come from pumped-storage hydro power. Construction on the first phase of the project is slated to begin in 2012 with the construction of a 150 mW wind farm. By 2016, 600 mW of the wind capacity is planned to be online. As part of this project, manufacturing facilities will be built in Lesotho and South Africa.
PowerNET Developments (Pty) Ltd
The project involves the development of 42-turbine Letseng wind farm and has been approved by the Lesotho government. Lesotho’s first 25-35MW wind facility will be located near the diamond mine of Letseng La Terai in the highlands of Lesotho. PowerNET Developments (Pty) Ltd is a joint venture between South African energy consultancy NETGroup and Lesotho’s Powerdev Group.
Private sector associations and civil society organisations
The Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (LCN)
The Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (LCN) is an umbrella organization for NGOs in Lesotho. It was established in May 1990 with an objective of providing supportive services to the NGO Community. The Council implements this through networking and leadership training and development, information dissemination, capacity building, coordination, advocacy and representation when dealing with the government and the international community.
Lesotho Association of Engineers
Among other goals the LAE seeks to foster and promote the art and science of Engineering and its application in Lesotho and to facilitate the exchange of information. For that matter, they will cooperate with educational institutions and public educational authorities for the furtherance of education and training in Engineering Science and Practice.
Lesotho Solar Energy Society
Lesotho Solar Energy Society (LeSES) acts as a platform for the industry and clean energy expert groups to exchange information and implementation of an industry code of practice.