Caswell Tlali
MASERU — The newly formed Lesotho Power Generation Authority (LPGA), which will begin operations in April, has attracted a M112.5 billion investment for an electricity generation project.
Natural Resources Minister Monyane Moleleki told Parliament last week that an investor was in talks with King Letsie III and Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili about the possibility of pouring funds into the project.
He said it was premature to name the investor at this stage.
“The government of Lesotho will contribute M1.750 billion towards the project,” he added.
The LPGA will not replace the Lesotho Electricity Authority (LEA) but will focus on establishing major power generation ventures including the ’Muela Hydropower Project.
The LPGA will also authorise the generation of power by wind. Its first wind electricity plant will be near the Lets’eng Diamond Mine in Mokhotlong.
“In Lets’eng-la-Terai there will be 12 windmills erected to produce power equivalent to 25 megawatts,” said Moleleki.
For the Lets’eng-la-Terai plant the investor will pay M650 million while the government will provide M130 million.
Moleleki said the LPGA will establish windmills for power generation in 17 locations throughout the country’s mountainous areas.
The wind power generation project is expected to be complete in five years.
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