he Minister of Energy Professor Nqosa Mahao says the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) is currently experiencing financial crises as it has a debt of half a billion.

The Minister said this when presenting his Ministerial financial estimates in the National Assembly on Saturday. He said LEC owes ESKOM in South Africa millions, as well as the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) among others.

Professor Mahao said this is despite the financial forensic audit having been made in 2018, saying things have gone from bad to worse. He told the Members that he has already approached the Minister of Finance and Development Planning Dr. Ret’selisitsoe Matlanyane for another forensic audit to be made in a bid to save the company which he said was about to collapse.

Speaking about the tariff hikes which have been released by Lesotho Electricity and Water Authority (LEWA) which will be effective from April 01, he said the tariffs were needed for the company to be able to function properly while on the other hand he said connection charges were low and needed to be revised by nine percent even though it had been recommended for 23 percent.

The Minister promised that 25 000 households will be connected with electricity in the new financial year, saying the districts of Qacha’s Nek and Mokhotlong will be connected to the powerlines from Mphaki and Maputsoe to stop their dependence on unreliable power supply from South Africa.

He also mentioned that climate change has caused environmental degradation around Ha Mamarothole to the tune of M22 Million.

The Minister also promised that his Ministry was planning to build fuel storage in order to store fuel and gas which the country could survive for not less than 60 days during times of fuel crises.

Prof. Mahao also said Lesotho is about to be self-reliant on energy supply, especially in summer when the country needs only 160 megawatts but that in winter electricity supply increases to around 200 megawatts.

The Minister warned the Members that beginning October this year, the country will be in need of power supply since the Hydro Power Station at ‘Muela will be undergoing major maintenance for six months and that the country will be forced to import electricity outside the country.

A Member of Parliament for Machache Constituency Mr. Motheo Ralitapole said in his constituency only three villages are without electricity and that these villages are isolated as they too need electricity supply.

Mr. Mokoto Hloale who is former Minister of Energy and now a Legislator for Maliba-Mat’so said the money allocated to this ministry is too little that it cannot supply electricity to a village of 500 inhabitants.

The Minister of Energy was allocated a sum of M24, 596,835 million for the new financial year.