Lesotho Renewable Energy-Based Rural Electrification Project
Private Bag A91, Maseru 100, Lesotho. Telephone: 22 312271 Fax: 22 312278

PRESS RELEASE
 

The Lesotho Renewable Energy-Based Rural Electrification (LREBRE) project is currently holding a five-day training workshop for Solar Dealers at the Rural Water Supply Resource Centre at Khubetsoana. The workshop, which is facilitated by Tsoelopele Consultants & Contractors commenced on Monday 04 August 2008 and will end on Friday 08 August 2008.

Present at the workshop are suppliers and installers working in the renewable energy sector, especially solar PV. This training is 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 up 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 will be dedicated to topics such as managing and planning businesses, tendering procedures, marketing and customer satisfaction.

The workshop closes on Friday and the Director, Department of Energy will award attendance certificates to all participants.

The LREBRE project is a five-year development initiative aimed at reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels by introducing renewable energy technologies, especially solar PV in Lesotho’s remote areas falling outside the national electricity grid. The project focuses on the installation of solar PV in public institutions, households and small businesses in the districts of Mokhotlong, Thaba-Tseka and Qacha’s Nek. The project also aims at developing a sustainable PV market in the country. It is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Lesotho. It is being implemented by the Department of Energy under the Ministry of Natural Resources.



For more information please contact:

Ms Matseliso Makoele
Lesotho Renewable Energy-Based Rural Electrification Project
6th floor, Moposo House
Maseru

Tel: 22 312271
Fax: 22 312278

Email: m.makoele@reu.gov.ls