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dam-l Muela hydropower/LS
This should be read before the previous email (called LHWP editorial):
Mopheme/The Survivor
a weekly newspaper published by Newsshare
Foundation in Maseru, Lesotho
Tel: 266-311670 | Fax: 266-311670
E-mail: mopheme@lesoff.co.za
Lesotho Now self-sufficient in Electricity
January 26, 1999
By Lawrence Keketso
Maseru - What does the inauguration of the Muela Hydropower Station mean to
ordinary Basotho citizens? According to the Chief
Executive of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, Makase Marumo,
the key benefits to Basotho from the hydropower
scheme is that Lesotho used to import electricity from South Africa, but
now all that money that was paid outside the country can
be used for development in the country.
In an interview with Mopheme, Marumo said the country used to spend over
M40.0 million a year to buy electricity from Eskom in
South Africa and added, "the projections now are that we should be able to
generate about M100.0 million in electricity revenues".
He further said apart from the country becoming self-sufficient in energy
production, the Muela Hydropower station has brought
about some sense of security in the electricity needs of the country.
"There is no question now that the electricity has been brought closer to
the rural communities through the project's sites, rural
electrification is possible," he said. Speaking at the inauguration
ceremony held near the Muela dam site on Friday (January 22),
Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili said the occasion marked a very important
step in the development of Lesotho.
"It is now the expectation of every Mosotho to see electricity all over the
country and at affordable rates," he said. Mosisili went on
to say that there is however a tendency in the country to see developments
such as this one benefit only the urban communities.
"There should be a change now, we should see Basotho rural communities also
get electrified," he appealed. He further said
that he believed that if the authorities could review their distribution
policies and move towards servicing larger communities as
opposed to the present system whereby electricity can only be afforded by
the rich few, then more revenue could be derived from
this project.
Mosisili further appealed that the Lesotho generated electricity should
benefit Basotho first and "once they have all satisfied their
needs then it can be sold to other countries," he added. In conclusion he
appealed to Basotho experts who left the country for
greener pastures elsewhere outside the country to come back home as there
are now works that need their expertise.
The Prime Minister said those Basotho trained experts can make their own
greener pastures in Lesotho. He said he was very
gratifiedto find a young Mosotho man explaining to him about the
electricity generation when he visited the underground power
house in Muela.
Lesotho started using its own electricity in September last year when the
hydropower station came into operation. The Muela
hydropower project which was financed to the total of M899 million, which
came as grants, export credit, treasury loans and direct
government contributions is the sole component of Lesotho Government
responsibility of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
The project will initially generate 80 mega watts of power which is
expected to increase to 110 mega watts if the Government of
Lesotho and of South Africa agree to carry on with the Phase II of the
Highlands Water Project.
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Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
and Editor, World Rivers Review
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
Tel. (510) 848 1155 Fax (510) 848 1008
http://www.irn.org
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