Community engagement and sustainability: Two cases of implementation of mini-grids in Lesotho

Abstract Based on a survey of two Lesotho communities, this study assessed the type of governance of energy that favours the emergence of energy democracy or community energy. It established that the centralized energy governance of Semonkong seems less effective in solving conflicts compared to the decentralized energy governance of Ha-Makebe. Poor communication and lack of will to respond to community needs caused dissatisfaction and misunderstanding towards the centralized energy project. The study found that the decentralized energy project was more likely to be sustainable because it was characterized by community participation and engagement. The findings also revealed that the satisfaction of energy consumers results from a consistent supply of energy accompanied by responsiveness to community needs as opposed to a cheap inconsistent electricity supply. The implications are that the Semonkong plant's sustainability is at risk, and the project may collapse unless the Government of Lesotho, in the short term, engages with the community regarding its concerns. This work assesses Lesotho’s two energy mini-grids to establish one with community involvement and participation in decision-making and sustainability prospects. The study established that the Ha-Makebe energy project was inclusive and inclined to community energy, democracy, and sustainability as it was swift in addressing simmering conflicts. In contrast, the Semonkong project was less consultative and lacked community involvement and participation in decision-making. As a result, its sustainability was at risk because it was slow to address community conflicts regarding the project. Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract