Ha – Ramathole – In a move to combat severe land degradation and safeguard vital infrastructure, the Kingdom of Lesotho has inaugurated a landmark partnership aimed at enhancing the resilience of the Ha Ramarothole Solar Power Plant through integrated catchment management (ICM). The partnership, forged between ReNOKA, the Lesotho Electricity Generation Company (LEGCO), and international partners, underscores a robust strategy to secure the nation’s land and water resources while bolstering renewable energy output, at Mafeteng on Thursday morning.
His Majesty King Letsie III officially launched the partnership today, highlighting the urgent need to address environmental degradation threatening the country’s ecological balance and economic stability.
“We live in times where weather patterns as we have known them have been affected by climate change. It is often that developing countries are more heavily impacted by the changing climate than developed countries. Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to witness partnerships such as the one we are launching today which strive towards increasing climate resilience of our land, people, and public infrastructure while at the same time produce clean energy,” remarked the His Majesty King III.
Lesotho, often referred to as the water tower of Southern Africa due to its abundant water resources, is facing severe land degradation. This degradation not only threatens the ecosystem but also the livelihoods of communities reliant on these environmental resources. To address this, ReNOKA, supported by the European Union and the German Government through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, has embarked on a phased approach to rehabilitate Lesotho’s catchments.
The partnership with LEGCO is a crucial step in this endeavour. The Ha Ramarothole Solar Power Plant, an 80MW solar photovoltaic project, plays a key role in Lesotho’s renewable energy strategy, feeding into the national grid to increase energy security and reduce dependency on imports. However, the plant is threatened by significant erosion, characterized by gullies that compromise its infrastructure. The erosion has damaged the boundary fence and the foundations of several solar panels, prompting LEGCO to seek ReNOKA’s expertise in watershed rehabilitation.
Fabian Kyrieis, Germany’s head of cooperation, highlighted the broader implications of the project, saying, “Regionally, ReNOKA is a flagship initiative for a comprehensive Integrated Catchment Management approach that combines the restoration of land and water resources, the protection of the most vital ecosystems, and the empowerment of local communities and national institutions. It aims for a coherent ICM Governance approach that overcomes silos and embraces multi-stakeholder partnerships like the one we are launching today.”
The implementation of ICM measures at the solar plant began in December 2023, funded by the Government of Lesotho and supported technically by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. These measures aim to mitigate erosion by reducing the quantity and velocity of water flowing from the mountains, a significant contributor to gully formation around the plant. ReNOKA plans to establish new ICM institutions within the sub-catchment to involve local communities in planning and implementing sustainable land management practices.
EU Ambassador H.E. Paola Amadei emphasized the significance of data-driven insights in these efforts.
“The Atlas is the result of a collaborative effort between ReNOKA and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The Atlas will provide extensive data for policy-makers, as well as for researchers and academic institutions,” she said. “As we embark on this journey, fueled by data-driven insights and collective determination, let us reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding Lesotho’s natural resources for future generations,” said Amadei.
This partnership not only protects the solar power plant but also enhances Lesotho’s ability to become an exporter of renewable energy, promoting green and resilient growth. The initiative aligns with the Government of Lesotho’s National Strategic Development Plan II (NSDP II) and demonstrates the tangible connections between the EU’s ‘Renewable Lesotho’ and ‘Metsi a Lesotho’ programs, which aim to harness the country’s renewable energy potential and improve water security for rural communities, respectively.
Over the past three years, ReNOKA has made significant strides, rehabilitating more than 565 hectares of watersheds, establishing over 300 ICM community structures, and mobilizing over 3,800 community members.
“For infrastructure projects to last – especially in the view of climate change – it is important to take environmental factors in their planning, construction, and management into account and to increase their resilience against climate and environmental risks through preventative and adaptive measures,” stated Kyrieis.
The Ha Ramarothole initiative marks a critical step towards ensuring that Lesotho’s natural resources are managed sustainably, fostering a resilient and prosperous future for the Basotho people.
