Food infl ation in Lesotho: Implications for monetary policy

The article examines the transmission mechanism between food and nonfood prices in Lesotho within the vector autoregression framework for the period 2003–2012. The results confirm that food inflation in Lesotho is more persistent than nonfood and headline inflation. This implies that shocks to food inflation have had a more lasting adverse impact on food prices than is the case for nonfood inflation. The findings also support the existence of a significant transmission of shocks between food and nonfood prices. As a result, the monetary authorities have to be vigilant when supply shocks hit food, since such shocks could be propagated into nonfood prices and could exert upward pressure on nonfood, headline and core inflation.Keywords: Core inflation; food inflation; Lesotho; monetary policy; nonfood inflatio

Acoustic properties of agroforestry waste orange pruning fibers reinforced polypropylene composites as an alternative to laminated gypsum boards

The present paper investigates the acoustic properties of natural fiber reinforced composites. Fibers from orange tree pruning were obtained and subject to different treatments in order to obtain mechanical, thermomechanical and chemi-thermomechanical pulps. These pulps were used as reinforcement for a polypropylene matrix. The obtained composite materials were submitted to acoustical tests in an impedance tubes device. The transmission losses obtained against the fiber content were obtained and discussed. Latter it was researched the influence of the fiber treatments on the soundproof characteristics. A numerical method was used to preview the acoustic insulation of the materials against the sound frequency. Finally the results were compared with that of the most usual lightweight soundproof solutions. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Reixach, R.; Rey Tormos, RMD.; Alba Fernández, J.; Arbat, G.; Espinach, FX.; Mutjé, P. (2015). Acoustic properties of agroforestry waste orange pruning fibers reinforced polypropylene composites as an alternative to laminated gypsum boards. Construction and Building Materials. 77:124-129. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.12.041S1241297

Lesotho electricity demand profile from 2010 to 2030

This study undertook a 2010 to 2030 electricity demand profile for Lesotho, with 2010 used as the base year. The demand forecast was modelled using the International Atomic Energy Agency Model for Analysis of Energy Demand, largely because of its proven ability to accurately forecast demand in developing economies based on socio-economic, technology and demography variables. The model correlates well with the actual data, where data exists, and predicts that by 2030 Lesotho will achieve a national electrification rate of 54.2%, with 95% for urban households and 14% for rural households, up from 19.4%, 54.1% and 1.8% respectively in the base year. Moreover, in the same period, the forecast for the most likely scenario gives the following results: the maximum demand will increase to 211 MW from 121 MW; the annual average household energy consumption will continue its decline to 1 009 kWh/household from 1 998 kWh/household; and the total consumption will increase to 1 128 284 MWh from 614 868 MWh. The overall low growth rate is attributed to the consistently declining average household consumption that is contrary to international norms. The forecast results gave a root mean square percentage error of 1.5% and mean absolute percentage error of 1.3%, which implied good correlation with the actual data and, hence, confidence in the accuracy of the results. Highlights Between 2030 and 2010: Achievement of national electrification rate of 54.2% up from 19.4%. Electrification: 95% urban, 14% rural households, from 54.1% and 1.8% respectively. The maximum demand will increase to 211 MW from 121 MW. Annual average household consumption will decline to 1 009 kWh/household from 1,998 kWh/househol