Ben Rafoneke
Ben has over thirty-eight years engineering experience, including effective implementation of Social and Environment obligations. He was employed by the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) for 16 year at levels ranging from Supervisory to Senior Management. LHDA oversees the world’s largest (30 year, 5-phase) Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Ben is experienced in design, contract negotiations, construction management, contract administration, claims adjudication and dispute resolutions, operation and maintenance (O&M) of mega water projects, hydropower generation, management of social environmental programmes as well as financial management of projects.
He consulted on LHWP Phase II Studies for the Lesotho Government by leading the Lesotho Proposal Preparation Team. Ben was responsible for setting up the O&M Group of LHDA whose responsibility it is to ensure that the Muela Hydropower Station runs as a commercial entity and is able to sustain its operations.
Ben was the Deputy Team Leader for the Program Manager on the $430M Metolong Dam and Water Supply Project.
In 2016 Ben was appointed to serve on the governing Council of National University of Lesotho, and in 2017 to serve on Roads Directorate Board of Governors by the Minister of Public Works. He is a Member of Lesotho Association of Engineers and Past President of the Association.
He was the Secretary of the Lesotho National Committee on Large Dams; a body which was affiliated with the International Committee on Large Dams (ICOLD).
Ben obtained his BSc. Mechanical Engineering degree from University of New Brunswick in Canada and went on to earn his MBA – Post Graduate Diploma and Degree in Power Utility Management at University College Dublin (Ireland).
