In the wake of the 8th European Union (EU)-South Africa(SA) Summit held in Cape Town, significant financial commitments from EU could provide vital opportunities for neighboring Lesotho.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a robust €4.7 billion “Global Gateway Investment Package,” focusing on essential support for energy transition initiatives, the development of critical raw materials, low carbon hydrogen value chains, and energy infrastructure.
The summit’s discussions are particularly pertinent to Lesotho, which shares geographic and economic ties with South Africa. As Lesotho works towards diversifying its economy and investing in sustainable energy sources, the EU’s investment could catalyze similar projects in the Mountain Kingdom.
In an interview with Lesotho News Agency (LENA), a Businessman, Mr Seeisa Majoro said accessing the knowledge and resources from South Africa’s just energy transition could provide invaluable insights for Lesotho’s development strategy, particularly in building resilience against climate change.
Moreover, he added that the EU has committed to bolster skills development and employment through the Career Path Development for Employment (CPD4E) project, now a Multi-Donor Initiative (MDI) supported by Germany, Switzerland, and the EU. This initiative aims to enhance skills and create sustainable jobs aligned with South Africa’s Just Energy Transition, a model that Lesotho could adapt to bolster its own workforce capabilities.
“As the CPD4E initiative is implemented by GIZ, there lies an opportunity for Lesotho to engage in dialogues with South African partners to glean information on best practices and innovative training programs that could be applied in its local context,” Majoro continued.
“Strengthening human capital through education and skill training will be vital for Lesotho as it seeks to attract investment and create jobs in renewable energy sectors,” he said.
In conclusion, Mr Majoro believes that with the recent launch of Energy Hub in Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho has taken necessary steps towards energy transition therefore, stands to benefit significantly from leveraging its existing partnerships and exploring new ones in the renewable energy sector.
Source: Lesotho News Agency (17/3/2025)
