Electricity in Lesotho in 2021
In 2021, Lesotho's total electricity consumption stood at 51.54 watts per person, with its low-carbon energy sources contributing more than half to this figure. The primary low-carbon source was hydropower, providing exactly 25.02 watts per person. In comparison to the global average of 412 watts per person, the power consumption in Lesotho is significantly lower. As a result, the country experiences a comparatively low level of electricity generation, which may impact its economic growth and people's living standard. However, it's worth noting that a substantial portion of Lesotho's electricity consumption, almost 52 percent, is covered by net imports.
Suggestions
For Lesotho to increase its low-carbon electricity generation, there are several strategies it could potentially adopt from other countries. Considering Lesotho's terrain and climatic conditions, the country bears similarities to Uruguay and Denmark in terms of high wind potential. Uruguay generates about 160 watts per person and Denmark generates about 369 watts per person from wind energy. Lesotho could also learn from countries like Australia, which generates considerable electricity, 147 watts per person from solar energy. Furthermore, while nuclear energy is a significant low-carbon energy source in various countries, consideration of this option necessitates thorough scrutiny of Lesotho's socio-political dynamics and its ability to manage and regulate nuclear technology.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity in Lesotho has seen gradual progress, primarily through hydropower. At the start of the 21st century, in 2000, there was a 0.1 TWh increase in hydropower generation. Progress was slow in the following years, with no change from 2001 to 2004. However, 2005 marked an increase in hydropower output by 0.2 TWh, followed by a smaller uptick of 0.1 TWh in 2006. This slow yet consistent growth continued until 2011, which registered a dip of 0.2 TWh in hydropower production. Post-2011, the generation remained steady as there were no significant changes until 2019.