On July 25,2025, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL), together with the Ministries of Trade and Industry and Education and Training, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement licensing and quota systems to enforce the Ozone and Non-Ozone Regulations 2024. At the same event, held in Maseru, the Refrigeration and air-conditioning curriculum was launched.
Meant to be pioneered at four institutes countrywide; LerotholiPolytechnic, Technical School of Leloaleng, Thaba TsekaTechnical Institute and Catholic Comprehensive Community College, eligible qualifiers for the programme are people who have successfully completed their COSC and LSCE studies. The programme is meant to run for 2 and a half years, with the first 24 months meant for theoretical studies and the remaining 6 for apprenticeships where students will practically apply their skills.
Speaking at the event, the Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) Acting Commissioner General ‘Manneheng Mopeli, said the MoUmarked a new chapter of collaboration and shared responsibility in implementing and enforcing the Ozone and non-Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations in supporting Lesotho’s compliance with the Montreal Protocol.
“As RSL, we recognise that protecting our environment is not only a moral obligation but a legal imperative, aligned with our international commitments. Environmental integrity, economic development and revenue mobilisation are not mutually exclusive pursuits, they must and can reinforce one another,” Mopeli said.
She said the authority, in the partnership, will play a strong role in strengthening controls around the importation and exportation of controlled substances, emphasising that their border management role puts them in a unique and strategic position to keep Lesotho’s environment safe from harmful and illegal substances.
“We therefore welcome the cooperation and technical support that will be extended by the Ministry of Environment and other partners in this regard,” she added.
Lesotho is a Party to the 1985 Vienna and 1987 Montreal Protocols on the protection of the ozone layer and it passed the instrument of accession to both in 1994., mandating Lesotho to phase out substances that deplete the Ozone Layer’s Ozone Depleting Substances’ and accord to both agreements by controlling consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and report under articl7 of the Montreal Protocol by the end of July and March every year.
The country’s consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) and ODS is said to be currently predominantly in the servicing of refrigeration and Air-Conditioning (FAC) equipment hence its HFC and ODS are dominantly accounted for by the RAC sector.
Partners gathered at the ceremony agreed that the signing of the MoU was the beginning of a journey of action, vigilance and collaboration in the interest of Lesotho’s environment, economy and future generations.
Lesotho takes a step towards fighting climate change
