LESOTHO: NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER CALLS ON REHO

UNCLAS MASERU 000296

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KMCA ECON EAGR EAID LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER CALLS ON REHO


1. At a May 15 reception to mark the forthcoming departure of
U.S. Ambassador June Carter Perry, Monyane Moleleki, Lesotho's
Minister of Natural Resources, approached visiting Regional
Environment and Health Officer (REHO) Anthony Woods and
requested for a meeting the following day. REHO and Poloff met
Minister Moleleki the morning of May 16.


2. After mentioning some of his accomplishments as Foreign
Minister, Minister Moleleki stated that he was very pleased to
return to the Ministry of Natural Resources. He expounded at
length upon Lesotho's history as a producer of
hydro-electricity, and thanked the U.S. for supporting new
hydro-power projects through the Millennium Challenge
Corporation. He then noted his continuing interest in
alternative energy sources, and asked what support the United
States government could offer in the fields of solar or wind
power. He stated that Lesotho's poor harvests made the country
unlikely to be a future producer of biodiesel. REHO described
his role as one of policy coordination, not of direct funds
distribution.

PERRY