An overview of small hydropower development in Lesotho: Challenges and prospects

Lesotho’s energy balance is largely dominated by combustible renewable resources. However, the country is well endowed with hydropower resources for the development of both large and small-scale hydropower projects. There are several challenges that have to be addressed in order to reap the full benefits of this resource. Some of the main challenges are high capital investment costs on projects of this nature and heavy siltation of small reservoirs due to extensive soil erosion.