MASERU – The Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) and the Ministry of Natural Resources said they have secured enough electricity supply to avoid load shedding this winter season.
A press release from LEC said that adequate electricity supply has been secured from ‘Muela, EDM (Mozambique) and Eskom.
This means that people will not experience load shedding like they did during the winter season last year.
“LEC has, jointly with its parent Ministry of Natural Resources, initiated measures that have positively changed the situation during this winter, by securing electricity…” said the statement from LEC.
The statement said Lesotho was unlikely to experience load shedding unless the main suppliers experience serious problems.
“Load shedding is not expected this winter, unless the potential suppliers of electricity experience drastic problems that may lead to shortage of power supply.”
Last year LEC was forced to implement load shedding between March and December due to the power shortages experienced by the main suppliers.
LEC recently reviewed power tariffs citing increase from Eskom one of the main suppliers.
There are current fears that the price of power might increase again because Eskom had revealed that they are pushing for a nominal 34 percent.
South Africa’s National Energy Regulator (NERSA) recently said it had received an interim price increase application from Eskom requesting a 25 percent real price (34 percent ominal) increase.
South Africa’s power regulator approved a 27 percent tariff hike to Eskom last June, well short of the 53 percent increase requested by Eskom.