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4.7. To strategically support agriculture's role in ensuring food safety, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation, the authorities are in the process of developing a National Agriculture Investment Plan (NAIP).

4.8. A Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plan (CSAIP) was adopted in 2017. Among policy actions prioritized under the CSAIP, the authorities aim to strengthen agricultural research and extension and building capacity for farmers to access climate finance. [40](...)
[40] World Bank, Lesotho Climate-Smart Agriculture Investment Plan. (...)

4.23. Lesotho's mining development strategies are specified in its 2015 Mineral and Mining Policy. The Policy notes several challenges that continue to hinder the development of a responsible, equitable, and sustainable mining industry in Lesotho. These include insufficient knowledge of the country's mineral resources endowment, an inadequate taxation regime, and a lack of a clear position of the Government on value addition and domestic empowerment.

4.25. (...)The Government's plan, as indicated in the Policy, aims at transforming artisanal mining activities from their hazardous working conditions and environmental degradation practices to a poverty-reducing economic activity. In 2021, Lesotho passed a new law legalizing diamond artisanal and small-scale mining, which has been prohibited since 2005. The new law specifies that artisanal mining is open only to indigenous Basotho individuals. (...)

4.27. By law, companies (local and foreign) willing to engage in mining activities require a licence. (...)The Mining Board issues prospecting licences, mining leases, and mineral permits, provided the applicant (national or foreign) has adequate financial resources, technical competence, and experience, and makes proper provisions for environmental protection. The environmental impact assessment licence is issued by the Ministry in charge of environment.(...)

4.34. (...)Lesotho's Energy Policy 2015-2025(...)aims to provide Lesotho with an affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly energy supply. It is aligned to Vision 2020 and the NSDP II [the National Strategic Development Plan II], and promotes development of environmentally cleaner renewable energy and increasing the share in the energy mix.

4.35. Lesotho's energy sector is characterized by a high level of consumption of energy from biomass sources. In 2020, Lesotho's final energy consumption was dominated by biofuels at 57% followed by oil products at 26%, electricity at 7%, and coal at 7%.

4.36. The predominance of traditional biomass energy (wood, shrubs, crop wastes, and dung) to meet households' energy needs, mostly in rural areas, poses challenges of environmental degradation in the form of deforestation and soil erosion. (...)

4.38. Water is in relative abundance and thus the generation of electricity using hydropower has strong potential. (...)The Government has set a goal of universal access to electricity by 2030. Lesotho has identified hydropower, wind generation, and solar power as potential renewable energy sources to help reach this target.

Table 4.4 Installed capacity of electricity power stations
(MW and kVA)
Area: Semonkong; Units:Hydro (MW); Number:0.18
Area: Moshoeshoe 1; Units: Solar (MW); Number: 0.28
Area: Muela; Units:Hydro (MW); Number: 72
Area: Mantsonyane; Units:Hydro (MW); Number: 2
(...)