Electricity in Lesotho in 2022

In 2022, the state of electricity consumption in Lesotho showed a significant reliance on clean, low-carbon energy sources, with more than half of its electricity coming from hydropower, which stood at approximately 54%. This indicates a strong foundation in sustainable energy. The remaining 46% of the electricity consumed in Lesotho came from net imports, which highlights the country's dependence on importing fossil-based electricity to meet its energy demands. This dependence underscores the potential to further develop and diversify its clean energy portfolio, ultimately reducing reliance on less sustainable energy sources and decreasing associated environmental impacts like air pollution and climate change.

Suggestions

To increase its share of low-carbon electricity generation, Lesotho could look at successful models from countries that have effectively integrated wind and solar power, as well as nuclear energy. For instance, Denmark generates nearly 60% of its electricity from wind power, serving as a valuable example for implementing large-scale wind energy projects. Similarly, countries like Uruguay and Ireland harness substantial portions of their electricity from wind energy, with contributions of 36% and 34%, respectively. Greece offers insight into solar energy potential, generating 22% of its electricity from solar. These examples underscore the opportunities Lesotho could explore, harnessing its natural resources like abundant sunshine and wind to transition from imports to domestic clean energy generation.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Lesotho has predominantly focused on hydropower. Starting in 2000, Lesotho began to incrementally increase its hydropower generation capacity by small yet consistent margins, with notable expansions occurring in 2000 and 2005, both marking increases of 0.1 TWh. This modest growth trajectory continued until a downturn in 2011, which saw a decrease of 0.2 TWh in hydropower generation. The years that followed, however, revealed a period of stagnation with no significant changes to Lesotho's low-carbon generation until recent years. The country has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to clean energy through its hydropower infrastructure, serving as a solid foundation upon which it can build its future in expanding solar and wind initiatives, thus advancing its energy independence and environmental stewardship.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources