Natural Resources
Contents
Lesotho is known as the highest $ per carat producer of diamonds in the world. Diamond mining comprises around 4% of the country’s GDP.
Most of Lesotho’s high-value diamond mines are located in a cluster high up in the Maluti Mountains. These mines include Letseng, located within 5km of Mothae, which is the world’s highest $ per carat kimberlite diamond mine.
Lesotho’s diamonds include the 603 carat Lesotho Promise, the 601 carat Lesotho Brown, the 550 carat Letseng Star, the 478 carat Light of Letseng and the 493 carat Letseng Legacy.
In January 2018, Gem Diamonds announced the recovery of a spectacular 910 carat diamond from Letseng, reported to be the fifth largest gem on record.
Other mineral resources are limited:
- Base metals
- Clays
- Dimension stone
- Sand
- Gravel
- Uranium
Other Natural resources:
- Water – Major export to South Africa (Gauteng Province): The small Southern African country is known for being part of the continent’s largest water transfer project. Dubbed the “Lesotho Highlands Water Project”, the project is a major bilateral project which is supported by the governments of South Africa and Lesotho. In the project, Lesotho provides water from its major rivers which are channeled to South Africa’s Gauteng Province which is home to many heavy industries that consume huge quantities of water.
Register a Business OR Become an Afropreneur OR Share Your Experience OR Full Country Guide
