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8 August 2008
The Lesotho Renewable Energy-Based
Rural Electrification (LREBRE) project held a five-day Capacity
Development event for Solar Dealers at the Rural Water Supply
Resource Centre at Khubetsoana. The event, which was facilitated by
Tsoelopele Consultants & Contractors commenced on Monday 04 August
2008 and ended on Friday 08 August 2008.
Present at the workshop were suppliers and installers working in the
renewable energy sector, especially solar PV. The training was
geared at assisting them to understand technical aspects of the
solar industry, adhere to the PV Code of Practice to ensure happy
and satisfied customers and also to run profitable and sustainable
businesses.
Addressing participants at a brief opening ceremony, the Director
Department of Energy Mr. Thabang Phuroe said that he was pleased
with the turn out and encouraged participants to make use of the
workshop and facilitators who are specialists in this field. He
reminded them that due to poor workmanship by some, customers had
lost hope in the solar industry and that it was up to them to
restore that hope.
Mr. Seriti Phate, leading facilitator for the workshop, gave a brief
overview of topics to be covered. He indicated that participants
would be given an overview of the critical role renewable energies
are playing in global energy sources. They would then be taken
through solar PV design, sizing, installation, repairs and
maintenance. The Lesotho Code of Conduct for PV suppliers and
installers will also play a major role in this workshop as it is the
document intended to assist the PV industry in Lesotho to develop a
fair and competitive business environment to deliver an efficient
service for the country.
Mr. Phate ended by mentioning that in order to run profitable
enterprises; the solar industry needs to understand and appreciate
disciplines essential to business success. For this reason, the last
two days of the course were dedicated to topics such as managing and
planning businesses, tendering procedures, marketing and customer
satisfaction.

Department of Energy awarded
certificates to all participants. |