Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Ministry of Energy and Meteorology, in collaboration with Women In Sustainable Energy Lesotho (WISE-L), celebrated Women’s Month at the event held in Maseru.
Speaking at the second Women in Energy event, the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Meteorology, Ms. Masekhobe Seeiso-Moholobela, expressed her honor and pleasure to join WISE-L in celebrating women’s month under the theme ‘ Safe and Sustainable Energy Applications for Women Ms.
Seeiso-Moholobela said she is happy to share this platform with eminent women in the industry who have defied the odds to become exemplary leaders in a male-dominated industry.
He said that ensuring universal access to sustainable forms of energy is a key global development goal essential to improving the lives and livelihoods of women and men around the world, saying that energy improves the well-being of women and men. through the production of goods and services. access to services such as water, health, education and communications.
She said that gender roles, defined mainly by sociocultural expectations, behaviors, responsibilities and activities that build a society, determine the role and relationships of women and men as providers and users of energy, as well as their participation in the energy market and decision-making processes.
Furthermore, she said that gender issues in the energy sector are crucial because energy affects women and men differently through access, use and impact of energy services.
She said that all energy interventions must be designed and implemented with these differences in mind to achieve equitable and sustainable impact. Ms.
Seeiso-Moholobela said that Lesotho still faces significant challenges in terms of access to electricity and modern energy, hence the high reliance on traditional fuels, saying that according to the household energy consumption survey of As of 2017, about 62.0 percent of households used biomass to meet their daily needs.
power requirements. The survey further revealed that 55.4% of the household members responsible for collecting firewood were women, compared to 44.6% of men.
He said that the energy policy (2015-2025) recognizes gender mainstreaming as one of its guiding principles and establishes that ‘gender equality will be an integral part when energy programs and activities are formulated and implemented, noting that in 2020, the Ministry of Energy and Meteorology developed a strategy to incorporate the gender perspective in energy institutions and in the execution of electrification projects within the framework of sustainable energy for all projects.
He added that the strategy paints a very bleak picture of corporate diversity in the energy space, saying that, unsurprisingly, the strategy identified that the sector is predominantly male-dominated, especially in the leadership and technical field, particularly in the public sector with the proportion of women occupying 5 percent of senior management and 20 percent of men.
Ms. Seeiso-Moholobela said that she is confident that WISE-L will provide a platform for advocacy, engagement and access to knowledge and resources, as well as provide young professionals with role models and mentors for greater impact.
In conclusion, she announced the ministry’s support for the launch of Women In Sustainable Energy-Lesotho (WISE-L), an initiative led by women that promotes gender equality and equity in this formerly male sector, inviting everyone to support this great women’s initiative. striving to make a difference and create opportunities for women. Also speaking, the Director of the Department of Energy, Mr.
Mokhethi Seitlheko, expressed his sincere thanks to WISE-L and the Lesotho Renewable Energy and Energy Access Project (LREEAP) for all their hard work in making this event happen, saying that this event builds on the first ‘Women in Energy’ event held last year under the theme ‘Promoting Gender Balance in the Energy Sector’ which was a great success.
Mr. Seitlheko said that this year’s theme ‘Applying Safe and Sustainable Energy for Women’ is held in solidarity with WISE-L and commented that he has no doubt that the presentations and exhibits will impart highly relevant knowledge that will benefit to all those present at the event.
On the same note, Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) Chief Accounting Officer, Ms. Mathabo Mahahabisa, urged women to explore the field of science and technology so that they can lead an industry dominated by men. Ms.
Mahahabisa said that as an energy service provider, she will ensure that they generate clean energy to help the country generate clean energy that does not hamper the climate and will promote women who are in this industry.
The Representative of the Renewable Energy and Energy Access Project (LREEAP), Ms. ‘Mathapelo Keketso Silase, said that the project they are implementing speaks to the productive use of energy, saying that energy is necessary to improve the businesses of women.
Ms. Silase said that they are working hard to ensure that the energy component becomes part of her business so that they see growth. She added that the project aims to incubate women to participate in the energy sector, thereby demonstrating that women too have what it takes to lead this industry.
WISE-L is an organization that advocates and promotes gender balance in the energy sector, as well as promoting entrepreneurship among women in this sector.
For More News And Analysis About Lesotho Follow Africa-Press
