Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my pleasure and honour to welcome you all to this training course on Electricity Pricing. In particular, I want to extend a special welcome to Professor Izak Lambrechts and his team of lecturers, who as you are aware will be conducting the course.

The Lesotho Electricity Authority (LEA) is a very young institution, having come into operation only in August 2004. This, coupled with the fact that independent regulation is a new field not only in Lesotho but even throughout the developing world, means that we have been undergoing extensive training in order to carry out our mandate well. This course is one of several which have been arranged, in particular, for LEA staff.

Ladies and Gentlemen

The purpose of the workshop, which is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) through the Lesotho Utility Sector Reform Project, (LURP), is to give participants a broad understanding of the electricity supply chain and its associated costs, and hence, an understanding of the issues to be considered when determining prices or tariffs. Throughout the week I expect that we shall be taken through the various stages of electricity supply and be taught not only about cost and prices but also about electricity fundamentals. Therefore the course should be beneficial to those of you who have no background in electricity.

Although the workshop is principally held for the LEA (Board and senior staff) it has been felt that other power sector stakeholders should also find the training beneficial. Therefore we have with us representatives of the

Lesotho Electricity Corporation (LEC), Department of Energy (DoE), Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) and the Ministry of Local Government.

Ladies and Gentlemen

I want to end my brief discourse by thanking all those who have made the course possible. Special thanks are due to the AfDB, which, as I mentioned earlier, is funding the course.

With this few remarks, I hereby declare the course open.

Thank you.