Name of the Project
Lesotho 20 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project, Lesotho.

Location
Mafeteng province, Lesotho.

Client
OnePower Lesotho.

Project Description
The project entails a 20 MW solar PV plant to feed into the grid in the Mafeteng province. OnePower was named the successful bidder of the Lesotho 20 MW solar tender.
Once developed, the project will be the first utility-scale solar PV project in the country.

The PV plant will contribute about 13% to Lesotho’s system demand of about 150 MW and will herald in the phasing out of costly electricity imported from Mozambique and South Africa.
The project is aligned with the Lesotho National Electrification Master Plan, the Lesotho Electricity Authority Act No12 of 2002 and its National Rural Electrification Programme.

Jobs to be Created
Not stated.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Not started.

Latest Developments
The African Development Bank-managed Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa has approved a $695 000 grant for NEO I SPV, a subsidiary of One Power Lesotho, to support the preparation of a bankable business case for the project.

The bank will support the structuring of the project and lead it to bankability.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
African Development Bank SEFA coordinator, energy, environment and climate change department, Joao Duarte Cunha, email: j.cunha@afdb.org.