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The US Trade and Development Agency has awarded a feasibility study grant to OnePower Lesotho for a 20MW solar photovoltaic power plant. Boston-based CDM International will conduct the study, which will complete remaining preparation work the project needs to attract financing and reach implementation. The plant in western Lesotho will be the country’s first utility-scale solar plant and will support a goal of achieving 90% electricity access by 2020, with renewable generation comprising at least 200MW of capacity.

The Lesotho Electricity Company Ltd (LEC) is seeking expressions of interest from consultants to carry out an African Development Fund-backed renewable energy grid integration study. The study will assess LEC’s transmission and distribution networks to establish the level of absorption possible for renewable energy in the medium to long term.

The Lesotho Electricity Company says that bidding documents will be available in March for a renewable energy grid integration/absorption study backed by the African Development Bank. The study will assess the impact on the transmission and distribution network of renewable energy and establish the degree to which intermittent power can be absorbed by the grid in the medium to long term. Contact: Nts’ito Mahao, Lesotho Electricity Company Ltd, 53 Moshoeshoe Road, Industrial Area, Maseru West, PO Box 423, Maseru 100, Lesotho. Tel: +266 2231 2236; Fax: +266 2231 0093.

Lesotho Electricity Company is inviting bids for the rehabilitation of 13 switching stations in Maseru and one switching station at Butha-Buthe. The work, which is being financed by the African Development Bank’s African Development Fund soft loans arm as part of the Urban Power Distribution and Rehabilitation Project, will include dismantling existing switchgears, installation of new switchgears, installation of battery terminal units, commissioning of new switchgears, terminating cables to new switchgears, and jointing cables where necessary.

OnePower Lesotho seeks expressions of interest from consultants by 30 November for two separate contracts in support of the development of a 20MWac solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant for connection to the Ramarothole substation in Mafeteng district. The contracts for technical and financial services, and for the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) and management plan (ESMP), will be financed with a grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (Sefa), which is managed by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The European Union is seeking bids from consultants to provide services in the reform of Lesotho’s energy sector, improving its coordination function through restructuring of key entities and the regulatory framework. Bidders must be established in a member state of the EU or in an eligible country or territory. The contract will also support the Ministry of Energy and Meteorology (MEM) in the development and implementation of technical and financial planning instruments for increased access to sustainable energy in rural and in off-grid areas in addition to the existing on-grid extensions.

A ground-breaking ceremony took place on 27 March for the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. The project will substantially increase the water supplied to South Africa as well as enhancing the hydroelectric generation potential of the tiny country. Phase I of the project supplies South Africa with around 780mcm/yr of water and has a generation capacity of 72MW. Work on phase II will include construction of a 163.5 metre high concrete rockfill dam, with a crest length of 915 metres. A 38.2km, five-metre diameter tunnel will transfer water from the reservoir to the Katse dam.

The Lesotho Electricity and Water Authority and Ministry of Energy, Meteorology and Water Affairs have announced that bidding documents are expected to be released in March for consultants able to assist with the design of a regulatory framework for renewable energy resources. The project will consist of developing guidelines and legal instruments for power producers, principles and the financial model for determining renewable energy tariffs, standardised power purchase agreements and guidelines for power procurement. Work is being funded with a grant from the African Development Fund.

The Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme will provide more water to South Africa (up to 45.5cm/s from 24.6cm/s) and another 1GW of hydroelectric power, according to an agreement in principle to develop the scheme’s estimated R12bn second phase. The power will not be for tomorrow: the project is scheduled for completion by August 2020. South Africa has said it will bear the full cost, underlining the importance it places in getting water to two major nodal development projects, at burgeoning mining centre Lephalale near Vryburg, and Steelpoort.

The SAPP is putting on a brave face about prospects for the region’s electricity supply industry and its own performance, looking to inflows of investment to install more generation capacity across southern Africa and for the pool’s trading mechanisms to gain momentum

EGYPT: Kureimat O&M tender; ETHIOPIA: EIB confirms Gibe III pullback; KENYA: AFD support for renewables; LESOTHO: EIB funds low-energy bulb plant; TANZANIA: Caterpillar on track with Zanzibar scheme

Sweco to study power supply; New MD for Ugandan distribution company

The African Development Bank board has approved a combined loan and grant of UA11m ($16.4m) to finance Lesotho’s Electricity Supply Project. The UA8.9m loan and UA2.1m grant will support investment in electricity supply infrastructure to enhance access to power and ensure improved efficiency.

Engen Petroleum has concluded a sale and purchase agreement to buy Royal Dutch Shell’s downstream business interests in Lesotho and Zimbabwe. The Malaysian-owned company said it was buying Shell’s share in a joint venture with BP in Zimbabwe, and taking a long-term view that the economy would recover.