Name and Location
Mooi–uMngeni transfer scheme Phase 2 (MMTS-2), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Client
The project will be managed by the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, under an order by the Department of Water Affairs.

Project Description
The MMTS-2 project will supplement the yield of the uMngeni water system, one of three systems supplying water to about 6.3-million people living in the municipalities of eThekwini Metro, uMgungundlovu and uMsunduzi, in KwaZulu-Natal. The district municipalities of Sisonke, Ugu and Ilembe are indirect beneficiaries of the project.

The project comprises the construction of the Spring Grove dam and the associated transfer system (a pumpstation and a pipeline), in Rosetta, on the Mooi river, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, and a conveyance system to transfer water to the uMngeni river catchment.

Once constructed, the new system will augment the current yield of the uMngeni system by adding 60-million cubic metres of water a year, addressing water delivery backlogs and improving the security of supply in the region.

The Spring Grove dam is expected to increase the yield of the uMngeni system from 334-million cubic metres a year to 394-million cubic metres a year. The dam will be about 42 m high, with a gross storage capacity of 142.5-million cubic metres.

The project will also feature a fish barrier, upstream of the Inchbrakie Falls; access roads to various project components; various gauging weirs for the operation of maintenance measures; and impact-mitigation projects.

Value
The project will cost R2.2-billion. The MMTS-2 has been funded on an off-budget basis and the capital costs will be recovered from revenues generated by the sale of water.

It will be cofinanced by the European Investment Bank (EIB − €80-million), the Agence Française de Développement (AFD − €70-million) and Germany’s KfW Entwicklungsbank (€45-million). The project will also be supported by R250-million from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).

To help fund the implementation activities prior to securing the long-term funding, South African banking institution Nedbank made available a bridging loan for R200-million for the project.

Duration
Delivery of first water is expected in 2013.

Construction of the pipeline is expected to start in October/November 2012, pending the completion of an environmental-impact assessment.

Latest Developments
The Spring Grove dam, which augments the yield of the Mooi-uMngeni system by 60-million cubic metres a year, increasing the total yield to 394-million cubic metres a year, was completed in 2013.

Work is being undertaken on the pipeline connecting the dam to the uMngeni system.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
The EIB, the AFD, the KfW Entwicklungsbank, the DBSA and Nedbank (loan finance).

On Budget and on Time?
The sod-turning ceremony was held on May 16, 2011, marking the start of construction.

Contact Details for Project Information
AFD, Assia Sidibe, tel +27 11 540 7104 or email sidibea@afd.fr.
DBSA communication specialist Jabu Mthembu, cell +27 82 909 8505 or email jabum@dbsa.org.
EIB, Richard Willis, tel +352 43 79 82155 or email r.willis@eib.org.
KfW Entwicklungsbank, Dr Charis Pöthig, tel +49 74 31 4683 or email charis.poethig@kfw.de.
TCTA project manager David Keyser, tel +27 12 683 1200, fax +27 12 683 1300 or email dkeyser@tcta.co.za; or head of communications Thandi Mapukata, tel +27 12 683 1294 or email tmapukata@tcta.co.za.