The Kingdom of Lesotho has stood at the precipice of expanding renewable energy projects in recent years. According to the World Bank Group, the nation has a great capacity to utilize wind, solar and hydropower resources, which is abundant and can completely cover their national energy needs if harnessed.

Despite this, only 50% of the population has access to electricity. Lesotho’s efforts to reduce poverty have decreased urban impoverished groups by a small margin, but rural areas stagnated, likely needing decentralized electricity for development. Additionally, their high unemployment rates will make unaffordable energy, inequality and poverty persist if not addressed.

In order to prevent economic collapse in the wake of worsening climate effects and unpredictable economic surprises such as the U.S. tariff on Lesotho’s textile industry, focusing on improving domestic renewable energy in Lesotho can create jobs and reduce poverty.

What Is Energy Poverty?

A negative impact to populations is the lack of access to energy in households, depriving them of heating, cooling and functioning lights. As the problem occurs behind closed doors, governments often overlook this aspect in developing energy sectors.

Energy poverty can continuously affect vulnerable populations’ income levels. These impacts include less access to hygiene, healthcare issues and educational barriers. Improving household inequalities with renewable energy in Lesotho utilizes resources local to impacted areas.

Economic processes, such as humanitarian aid or budgetary spending, often tackle poverty. Lesotho’s poverty rate of 49% as of 2017 proves that these efforts are not enough. Concrete steps to stimulate the energy sector can provide relief for the at-risk population.

Additionally, the process to eradicate poverty and to provide renewable energy intertwine. To solve either issue, the government must commit to a combination of strategies. Strategic Planner for the United Nations, Subhra Bhattacharjee believes that to deliver clean energy, ending poverty is important as it is a requirement for future sustainable development.

PowerPoor: A Model for Energy Poverty

In addition to increasing their capacity to harness renewable energy in Lesotho, the government can improve their energy sector further by mitigating energy inefficiencies. Lesotho’s relatively small population gives them the opportunity to employ PowerPoor’s Power-Act tool in an effort to reduce inefficiency. 

Power-Act is the project’s idea to customize advice based on assessments of energy profiles of vulnerable citizens. As a secondary step in poverty reduction, this can prevent energy access from being unaffordable and can increase the country’s quality of life.

Looking Ahead

With better electricity infrastructure, using renewable energy in Lesotho will physically improve their initial energy needs, increase jobs and their overall quality of life. In combination with structured plans to reduce inefficiency, they can teach energy preservation to prevent future decline.

– Aliyah Omar

Aliyah is based in Alberta, Canada and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

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