Africa-Press – Lesotho. Over 1200 families are said to benefit from the M85 million Belo Industrial area electrification project that is funded by the World Bank. The installation will be
executed by the Ministry of Energy and Meteorology through the Lesotho Renewable Energy and Energy Access Project (LREEAP). To officiate the launch on
Friday, the Prime Minister (PM) Dr. Moeketsi Majoro noted that in the readily build 16 factories, 1400 people will be employed. He stated that most Lesotho
National Development Corporation (LNDC) investors are interested in the newly build industries in Butha-Buthe. “The other service brought along with electrification is of water connection under the government project called 5
towns which was launched a while ago and it had to begin in Butha-Buthe although it has not started yet,” Majoro explained. PM urged the community not
to sell sites on some of their fields without consulting experts for supervision as it has been experienced at Ha-Thetsane. “We see people building rental
houses and businesses close to the factories, these later obstruct infrastructure development, it is problematic for water pipes to run through, construction
of proper roads is also prohibited because everything has come close to the industries and it cannot be destroyed,” Majoro commanded. The Minister of Energy and
Meteorology Hon. Mohapi Mohapinyane presented the responsible contractor for this installation – Phaks Electrification and Construction. He said the project
will also benefit 21 schools including pre-schools, a clinic and 11 businesses and government offices around that area. “Our electricity installation needs
powerful electrical power station since more factories or industries are yet to be established in this area. This is a huge project,” Mohapinyane said.
The project Coordinator ‘Mathapelo Silase indicated that the project will ensure electrification of urban and peri-urban areas where the World Bank had funded a total of M900 million in
three components that is grid extension to Tikoe industrial zone, 30 households and mini grids to remote areas. “Under one of those project the World Bank will
bring electrical services to businesses lead by women, it is high time women show their potential,” Silase stated. She pointed that the community around the area
is at a great advantage of benefiting from this project. LNDC Managing Director (MD) Adv. Molise Ramaili said the unveiling of the Belo Industrial Electrification Project is essential to the successful completion of the Belo
Industrial Estate and marks a big win for LNDC. He added that the project is one of LNDC’s ongoing Infrastructure Capital projects in support of the National
Strategic Development Plan II strategic initiatives implemented on behalf of the government. “The supply of electricity in this area brings us one step closer to the development and
completion of supporting service utilities for the project. This project which is envisaged to be completed in December 2021, encompasses in its first Phase,
the construction of 16 factory shells and supporting infrastructure for the entire masterplan that will see a total of 51 shells built. The Ministry of
Energy and Meteorology and the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) have been instrumental in ensuring the supply of electricity in this area,” Ramaili explained.
Ramaili specified that the project came at the right time when all efforts to create workspace for industrialists and other commercial entities are of the utmost
urgency following an alarming increase of job losses due to the advent of Covid-19 on the global value chains and LNDC is dismayed at the downscaling of
operations by key players which has resulted in these job losses. He said in response to this, LNDC has held stakeholder engagements, resuscitated a body called the Inter-Ministerial Task Team which is a high-level problem-solving forum chaired by Dr Thabiso Molapo and other key government entities.
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