With construction set to start on the Komati Water Scheme Augmentation Project in February 2010, the State-owned Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) has invited bids for construction companies or joint ventures (JVs) to prequalify for the project.

The R800-million project, which is situated in Mpumalanga province, comprised the construction of a water transfer system and associated infrastructure, to pump additional water to reservoirs at two power stations in the province.

TCTA project engineer Sibusiso Mnguni said that the construction of the project was expected to be completed by August 2011, with water delivery expected in December 2011.

The contract involved a number of components, the first of which entailed the laying of about 60 km of 1 100-mm diameter steel pipeline from the Rietfontein Weir to a raw water storage dam at the Duvha power station, near Witbank.

A further 13 km of 600-mm diameter steel pipeline would also have to be installed from the Rietfontein Weir to a raw water storage dam at the Matla power station, near Kriel.

In addition, the project would also entail the construction of two new pump stations at the Rietfontein Weir, with capacities of 0,54 m3/s and 1,60 m3/s, as well as other secondary works, including access roads and road deviations.

Electrical and hydromechanical works, related to the above-mentioned structure, would also form part of the contract, the TCTA noted in a tender advertisement.

Interested parties had until October 2 to submit their prequalification documents to the TCTA.

A compulsory briefing would also be held at the TCTA’s offices, in Centurion, on Friday.

The prequalified companies and JVs were expected to be selected within a week or two after the submission date, depending on the number of submissions made.

The prequalified parties would then be invited to tender for the construction contract.

A final contractor would likely be selected before the end of the year.