Fuel Overview

The fuel services, provision and supply in Lesotho are dominated by the three listed companies. Shell Oil Lesotho (Pty) Ltd, Puma Energy and Engen Petroleum Lesotho (Pty) Ltd. These major companies are owned by South African companies. The country has encouraged private investment in fuel industry and no serious shortage of fuel have been experienced. There are however several hundreds of small unlicenced vendors providing fuel in the remote districts and towns.

The Petroleum Fund was established in 1955 prompted by the need to have fuel security in the country. The mandate includes:

• The stabilization of petroleum product prices when necessary,
• The stabilization of prices charged by oil companies on short-term basis,
• The purchase of petroleum products in times of crisis,
• The provision of national storage facilities for petroleum products when the need arises,
• The improvement of the distribution of petroleum products throughout the country,
• The improvement of safety at storage facilities,
• The research and studies pertinent to the petroleum sector; and any other energy project on loan basis.

The Petroleum Fund finances petroleum-related projects, to address the objectives of its enabling legislation which address, among others, the purchase of petroleum products in times of need; and the improvement of the distribution of petroleum products throughout the country. The Fund is committed to embarking on petroleum investments that will, not only ensure that there is the security of supply of petroleum products in Lesotho, but that investment opportunities are created for Basotho within the petroleum sector, including overall economic stimulation and job creation in the country.

For more information on government and fuel provider contact details, please see the following links:

http://petroleum.org.ls/

https://www.shell.com/about-us/contact-us/contact-lesotho.html

https://pumaenergy.com/en/

https://engen.co.za/

4.1 Government Contact List

4.7 Fuel Providers Contact List.

Fuel Pricing

Seasonal Variations 

Fuel Transportation

The importation of petroleum products is carried out by private companies from South Africa through the Customs Union agreement. These companies are responsible for the importation of products in quantities greater than 200 litres according to the Fuel and Services Control Act of 1983 and Importation of Petroleum Products Regulations of 1989. Lesotho will continue to import these products as long as there are no discoveries of oil reserves. Transportation of these products from the Durban refineries into Lesotho is either by road or rail. There are currently three major depots in Maseru with a storage capacity of approximately six days of petroleum supply. There depots do not have storage facilities for LPGas[1]. There are no bottle neck experienced except when there are strikes or other external factors in south Africa affecting movement of trucks.

Standards, Quality and Testing

Lesotho receives all its fuel from South Africa and follows South African standards. Therefore from South African perspective Fuel standards are regulated by the Department of Energy (DOE) and its various instruments under the Amendment of Regulations regarding Petroleum Products Specifications and Standards Act all import, manufacture and blending for liquid fuels are regulated and are to meet the applicable code under the South African National Standards framework.[2]

Lesotho does not have Testing facilities but depends on South Africa.

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.

[1] http://www.lewa.org.ls/library/Policies/Energy_Policy_2003.pdf

[2] /display/public/DLCA/3.1+South+Africa+Fuel

There are over twenty transport companies operating within Lesotho. The last three years of financial hindrance and government interference in the sector through economic difficulties have forced a number of these operators to find work outside the country Most of listed Companies operate across the SADC region. Many of the larger companies have fared well through these hard times but the smaller ones have struggled with upkeep and maintenance. The countries road network has allowed a sound industry to develop and being the regional gateway through transit routes, transporters can cope with capacities and product types across the regional market.

For more information on transport company contact details, please see the following link: 4.8 Transporter Contact List.

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.

Lesotho has a government-mandated minimum wage, and no worker in Lesotho can be paid less then this mandatory minimum rate of pay. Employers in Lesotho who fail to pay the Minimum Wage may be subject to punishment by Lesotho's government.

Labour Wages in Lesotho can be paid daily, weekly or on a monthly basis depending on the type of work contract which are usually as follows:

• Contract at piece rate: wage payment on daily basis;
• Contract for less than a month: wage payment on weekly basis;
• Contract for more than a month: wage payment on monthly basis; and
• Contract for completion of a task: wage payment on completion of the concerned task

Labour officers (Authorized by the Labour Code) are responsible for monitoring compliance of the minimum wage legislation. In the pursuance of their duties, they may inspect the workplace, ask questions from employees and request provision of information on working conditions. Casual workers often demand to be paid of the spot, such work is normally deferred to the stevedoring who handles the casual workers.

Workmen-Compensation-Act-1977.pdf (labour.gov.ls)

The Telecommunication services in Lesotho is placed under Ministry of Telecommunication Science and Technology. The Telecommunication Act of 2000 gave birth to privatization of the then monopoly operator known as Lesotho Telecommunication Cooperation. As a result, The Lesotho Telecommunications Authority (LTA) was established. The mandate of the authority is to create and enforce rules and procedures to facilitate efficient operations of the telecommunication sector in the Country.

Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) is a statutory body, established in June 2000, with the mandate of regulating the communications sector in Lesotho. This mandate entails: granting licences to operators; promoting fair competition; approving tariffs; managing the radio frequency spectrum; empowering and protecting consumers; type-approving terminal equipment and other related responsibilities.

For more information on telecoms contacts, please see the following link:  4.11 Additional Services Contact List.

Telecommunications Regulations

Though the is a private entity, that regulates all the Telecommunication activities, note that it they use the Government gazette to build or regulate the telecoms systems[1].  For Licensing note that the below requirements: Conditions for ISPs, Internet Service Providers (Form), Application form for Network Services - Internet Service Providers, Application form for Network Infrastructure, Application requirements for Network Infrastructure Licence, Application requirements for Network Services Licence. There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or credible reports that the government monitors e-mail or Internet chat rooms without judicial oversight. The Internet is not widely available and almost nonexistent in rural areas due to the lack of communications infrastructure and high cost of access. [2]

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

With the increase of several types of transmitting information, note that there are several technologies that are being not used through the structures maybe in place, most of the NGOS are only moving towards fiber.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Econet Telecom Lesotho, ILESOTHO, LEO and Vodacom Lesotho Pty are companies which provide internet connectivity in Lesotho. This companies provide offering broadband, fiber broadband, dial up internet, narrowband, Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G mobile internet, Wi-MAX, DTH services using cable, DSL, wireless, mobile and dial-up in Lesotho, Maseru and other nearest regions. Econet Telecom Lesotho and Vodacom provide reliable connections.

Average rates for broadband connection

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)

Lesotho has two MNO with the good coverage in all the districts, in the cases where there is no coverage, we observed that people are able to find sports where they are able to access the network.

For information on MNOs please visit the GSM Association website.

Spectrum Guidelines

Radio Spectrum Management guidelines form a basis for radio frequency licensing policies, requirements and procedures in the management of the national radio spectrum resource. This among others includes radio spectrum frequency monitoring, allocation and planning.

• Radio Spectrum Management Guidelines and Procedures 
• Radio Frequency Spectrum Policy
• 70_80 GHz Band Guidelines
• ISM Band Guidelines

Band plans for frequency allocations:

• 9 kHz - 100GHz
• Bands for Fixed Wireless Access and Broadband Access

Categories of Licenses

• Land Mobile Services
• Satellite Services
• Radiodetermination/Aeronautical Services
• Fixed Links
• Access Spectrum
• Fixed Links for Broadband Access
• Telemetry/Telecommand
• Broadcasting Services
• Amateur Radio
• Numbering Resources
• Private Network

[1] Lesotho Government Gazette, Friday 23^rd March 2018 No. 22

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Lesotho

Generic country information can be located from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For a general overview of country data related to the service and supply sectors, please consult the following sources:

The Observatory of Economic Complexity – MIT (OEC): (http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/)

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.