Georg Caspary of Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris which is the research institute of Groupe d'Economie Mondiale and also  a leading French public policy economic think tank, has fielded a number of questions for the LHDA’s attention. The research focuses on the integration of social and environmental safeguards in the financing of large dam projects.

What were the positive Impacts of the Project ?

1. Positive impact on the political landscape

Peaceful  and  cordial relationships between the Kingdom of Lesotho and neighbouring  Republic of  South Africa. An example of sustainable bi-lateral cooperation and peaceful coexistence on a highly volatile issue of water

2. Economic impacts

 Steady and reliable capital  injection of between M15-17m per month from royalty  earnings

 Permanent infrastructure in the form of 

Vehicular access roads and foot bridges to hitherto inaccessible highland   mountainous areas of Lesotho.   300km  bitumen  and  1,200km quality gravel roads in the remotest mountain area. This has facilitated further development of the areas

Telecommunication  network to Project sites

 Electricity network supply to Project sites

Health facilities in the Project sites accessible to local communities including the Leribe Trauma Unit

Upgrading of  cross border facilities of bridges and staff accommodation  to enable 24 hour crossing  at Maputsoe – Ficksburg,  Butha-Buthe- Fouriesburg and Maseru - Ladybrand

3. Establishment of Commercial centers and accommodation facilities at Likileng, Lejone, Katse and Mohale   including shopping units, health clinic, police outposts

4. Upgrading of Construction Communities comprising water supply, access roads, market and bus stops, a secondary school, community halls and kinder gartens, village development councils’ offices, power supply and a morgue and police outposts

5. Establishment and generation of hydropower in Lesotho at ‘Muela    Hydropower Plant – enabled through the LHWP implementation

6. Positive impact from instituting the Environmental Action Plan (EAP) aimed at mitigating adverse impacts of the LHWP:

7. Improved replacement  Housing standards  for those displaced by the project activities in the mountain/highland areas through the Resettlement programme

8. Improved Sanitation  and potable  water supplies for communities upstream of           LHWP reservoirs through the Public Health programme

9. Improved Education facilities for 18 primary  and secondary schools in the Phase IB including new classrooms, staff offices and book stores, ablution facilities for pupils and teachers, kitchen and food stores

10. Facilitating Nature Conservation Eco-tourism  from the establishment of     Ts’ehlanyane and Bokong nature reserves, Lipofung cultural village and archeological center, and Katse Botanical  Garden, preservation of the endemic Maluti minnow fish

11.  Empowerment of the communities with training and other support through capital from communal  compensation funds to engage in small business ventures of  cash crops such as cooperative stores, hammer mills, garages, trading stores.

Generally the LHWP has paved the way for numerous and diverse development opportunities in Lesotho.

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