Lesotho Electricity Company Repairs Storm-Damaged Infrastructure Across the Country

The Ministry of Energy and Mining in Lesotho has intensified efforts to restore electricity supply in several communities after severe weather conditions caused widespread damage to power infrastructure across the country. Strong winds, heavy rains and snowfall experienced three weeks ago left many households and businesses without electricity, disrupting daily life and economic activity in numerous districts. The government has since moved to address the crisis through the Lesotho Electricity Company, commonly known as LEC, which is currently carrying out repairs in the hardest-hit areas. Speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Lejone Mpotjoane confirmed that restoration work is underway and that critical infrastructure is being prioritised to reconnect affected communities. The announcement has brought some reassurance to residents who have faced prolonged outages and difficult living conditions due to the severe weather.

According to the minister, the destruction caused by the storms and snowfall affected several parts of the country including Morija, Metolong, Mafeteng, Semonkong, Ts’enola, Matala and Makhoathi among others. These regions experienced significant infrastructure failures as extreme weather conditions damaged transformers, electricity poles and both transmission and distribution lines. In some cases, electricity poles were completely uprooted while power lines collapsed due to the strength of the winds and the weight of snow accumulation. The damage has made it difficult for utility teams to restore services quickly, especially in mountainous and rural areas where roads remain inaccessible or unsafe. Residents in these communities have continued to struggle with interrupted access to electricity, affecting homes, schools, businesses and healthcare services.

Mr. Mpotjoane explained that although some areas have already had electricity restored, others remain without power because the destruction was severe and repair crews have faced major logistical challenges. Difficult terrain and damaged roads have slowed the movement of personnel and equipment, forcing the ministry to prioritise locations with critical needs first. Repair teams have been working under difficult conditions to replace damaged transformers and reconnect distribution lines in affected communities. The minister assured the nation that the Ministry of Energy and Mining together with the Lesotho Electricity Company is committed to restoring electricity supply as quickly and safely as possible. He also stressed that emergency response efforts are continuing every day despite the challenges posed by weather conditions and damaged infrastructure.

The recent storms have also highlighted the vulnerability of Lesotho’s ageing electricity infrastructure. Mr. Mpotjoane revealed that the ministry has resolved to replace old electricity poles in an effort to strengthen the country’s electricity network and improve resilience against future weather disasters. Many existing poles have reportedly weakened over time, making them more vulnerable to collapse during strong winds and storms. In addition to replacing outdated infrastructure, the ministry plans to improve vegetation management by controlling trees and plant growth near power lines and electricity poles. Overgrown vegetation is often a major contributor to power outages because falling branches and trees can damage lines during storms. The government believes these preventative measures will help reduce future disruptions and improve the reliability of electricity supply across the country.

The minister also called on members of the public to cooperate with ministry personnel and LEC workers during the ongoing repair process. Communities have been encouraged to continue reporting electricity faults, damaged infrastructure and power outages to help repair teams respond more efficiently. Public cooperation is considered essential because some faults may occur in remote locations that utility teams cannot immediately identify without assistance from residents. Authorities have also urged people to avoid interfering with repair operations and to stay away from damaged electricity lines and poles for safety reasons. The ministry hopes that stronger communication between communities and repair teams will speed up the restoration process and reduce the risks associated with damaged electrical infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Ntsokoane Matekane earlier informed the nation that the Disaster Management Authority is currently collecting information on the impact of flash floods and snowfall across the country. The assessment aims to determine how many people have been affected and what forms of assistance are urgently needed in different communities. The government intends to use the collected data to coordinate relief support for households impacted by damaged homes, loss of property and interrupted essential services. The disaster response process is expected to involve multiple government departments working together to support vulnerable communities during the recovery period. The ongoing weather-related challenges have once again demonstrated the importance of strengthening national infrastructure and improving disaster preparedness in Lesotho.

The damage caused by the recent storms has created serious challenges for many communities across Lesotho, but the government’s response shows a strong commitment to restoring normalcy. Repair efforts by the Lesotho Electricity Company continue in several affected areas as teams work to reconnect households and businesses to the national grid. The Ministry of Energy and Mining has also acknowledged the need for long-term improvements by planning to replace ageing electricity poles and better manage vegetation around power infrastructure. Public cooperation and accurate reporting of outages are expected to play an important role in speeding up restoration efforts. As the country continues to recover from the impact of severe weather conditions, authorities remain focused on rebuilding damaged infrastructure and supporting communities affected by floods, heavy rains and snowfall.