K-water to develop and manage dams in Lesotho

The Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) will collaborate with the Lesotho government to develop and manage dams and hydroelectric power plants.

Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water) President Yun Seogdae, right, discusses ways to collaborate on water management with Lesotho Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, left, at K-Water’s Han River branch in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, on Monday. [KOREA WATER RESOURCES CORPORATION]

The Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) will collaborate with the Lesotho government to develop and manage dams and hydroelectric power plants in the Southern African country, the state-run utility said Tuesday.

K-water President Yun Seogdae and Lesotho Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane, who is visiting Korea for the two-day Korea-Africa Summit, had the discussion at K-Water's Han River branch in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, on Monday. The meeting was the first of its kind between the two countries.

“I hope this meeting will be the first step toward collaboration between Korea and Lesotho in the water and energy sectors,” Yun said.

“We also hope this will be an opportunity to improve the economic cooperation between Korea and countries in Africa by providing water management skills to African nations that are facing water [shortage] due to climate change.”

Prime Minister Matekane expressed particular interest in the system K-water uses to monitor water management, which will help to fix water distribution issues that arise from climate change, according to the agency.

K-water plans to sign a more substantial agreement with the country including official development assistance, or foreign monetary aid meant to promote the economic growth and welfare of lower-income countries that often takes the form of grants and low-interest loans.

Lesotho, a landlocked nation, draws much of its electricity from its rivers, including its Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Africa's largest water transfer initiative, developed with South Africa. It is the only country with an elevation entirely above 1,000 meters (3,281 feet), and is home to one of Africa's largest dams.

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]