Solar electricity pulls crowds at 2008 Public Service Day

Hundreds of public servants and the general public braved a chilly and rainy day to attend the climax of public service day activities at the Bambatha Tsita Sports Arena on Friday 20 June 2008.

This year, the Lesotho Renewable Energy-Based Rural Electrification Project (LREBRE) joined forces with the Department of Energy (DOE) under the parent Ministry of Natural Resources to design a spectacular stall that became one of the day’s show-items.

Giving visitors a tour of the stall, Mr. ‘Muso Raliselo of the Department of Energy indicated that the focus was not just on activities carried out directly by the Department of Energy but also on projects such as the LREBRE which is executed by the Department.

Handing out written material and other promotional items to the crowds gathered at the stall, Mr. Raliselo touched on the fact that starting August 2008, the LREBRE project would install solar electricity in 250 households in selected villages of Mokhotlong, Thaba-Tseka and Qacha’s Nek. Of great interest to visitors was also the energy saving tips exhibited on the posters and demonstrated by video. Lastly, visitors were witness to the fact that solar electricity can work even under cloudy skies. The DOE team played videos throughout the day using solar electricity.

Though the first prize which recognizes the most creative and outstanding stall went to the Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation, Ministry of Natural Resources made it to the top five.

The Public Service Day is an annual event celebrated on June 23 worldwide with the aim of motivating public servants and recognizing their contribution towards the socio-economic development of their countries. Lesotho celebrated the event for the fourth time this year.
 

LREBRE’s mobile solar electricity unit on display