Lesotho Highlands Water Project – Phase 2, Lesotho to South Africa

21st March 2014

By: Sheila Barradas

Creamer Media Research Coordinator & Senior Deputy Editor

  

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Name and Location
Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) – Phase 2, Lesotho to South Africa.

Client
The governments of South Africa and Lesotho. The Lesotho Highlands Water Commission, Lesotho Highlands Development Authority and the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) are the countries’ respective implementing authorities.

Project Description
Phase 1 of the LHWP was officially completed in 2004.

Phase 2 of the LHWP will be implemented in terms of two distinct systems, namely a water delivery system to augment the delivery of water to South Africa and a hydropower generation system.

Polihali dam
The Polihali dam will be built downstream of the confluence of the Senqu and Khubelu rivers and will be a 163.5-m-high concrete-faced rockfill embankment dam wall.  The crest length will be 915 m with a full supply level of 2 075 m above sea level.  A 49.5-m-high saddle dam will also be constructed as well as a side channel spillway.

Polihali to Katse tunnel
The 38.2-km-long, 5-m-diameter Polihali to Katse dam tunnel will be constructed to transfer water from the Polihali reservoir to Katse dam. The tunnel is sized to convey a peak power generation flow of 35 m3/s. Water will be abstracted from the Polihali reservoir through two separate concrete bell-mouth intakes on the western side of the Polihali reservoir in the Khubelu river, three kilometres upstream of the confluence with the Senqu. Water will be transferred through the lower and upper intake tunnels to the intake gate shaft. Both of these tunnels will be constructed by drill-and-blast methods and will be fully concrete lined. Hydraulic control will be effected by the valves in the intake structures.  The Polihali intake gate shaft will only be used for maintenance and water quality control functions.

Advance infrastructure
Where possible, the existing infrastructure constructed in Phase 1 will be used. This includes access roads, power supply, telecommunication systems and camps.

The Polihali intake site will utilise the infrastructure required to construct the Polihali dam and the tunnel. This includes feeder roads and bridges around the reservoir to connect affected communities, power supply systems, construction camps and communications.

The facilities at Katse dam will be used for the Polihali to Katse tunnel construction. Housing for the consultants and construction management teams will be provided in the existing facilities. Improvements to the water and sewage treatment plants, clinic and lodge will be undertaken. A primary school will be built.

The existing camp for construction workers at Mphorosane will be refurbished to be used by the Polihali to Katse tunnel contractors. Improvements and expansions to the existing water and sewage treatment plants will be required. Other ancillary services will be constructed as determined during the design phase.  A satellite police station and accommodation facilities will be built and manned by Lesotho.

The upgrading of the existing hospital facilities at the Mamahau mission will be investigated and implemented to serve as a jointly managed project hospital, if found to be feasible.

Other infrastructure
Other access roads, feeder roads, management and labour camps, telecommunication and construction power systems will be built in addition to those detailed.

Where possible, the existing infrastructure constructed in Phase 1 will be used. This includes access roads, power supply, telecommunication systems and camps.

Environmental measures
Environmental mitigation measures, including environmental flow matters and baseline studies, will be implemented.  The full extent is being studied in detail for implementation.

Social development programmes
Social development programmes and mitigation measures, resettlement requirements, baseline studies and public relations and awareness campaigns will be implemented; The full extent is being studied in detail for implementation. This is currently under discussion and will soon be agreed to by the parties to impose the absolute minimum disruption to the affected households and communities.
These infrastructure developments may include medical clinics, feeder roads and bridges around the reservoir to connect affected communities and social development projects such as schools, churches and community halls.

Pumped-storage scheme
Phase 2 may also include a pumped-storage scheme, associated transmission lines and associated works by utilising the existing Katse reservoir as the lower reservoir and a new upper reservoir in the Kobong Valley. The implementation of the pumped-storage scheme is subject to a joint decision by the two governments, upon which both governments are still deliberating.

Value
The water aspect of the project is likely to cost about R12-billion.

Duration
Preparatory work – baseline studies etcetera – started in mid-2013 and the mobilisation of the project management unit started in August 2013.

Latest Developments
A project management unit was appointed in 2013 to provide specialist technical, environmental, socioeconomic, financial and procurement professional services to assist the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority in the procurement, management and implementation of Phase 2. Expressions of interest for the design of the dam, tunnel and advance infrastructure are expected to be issued within the first two quarters of 2014.

Request for proposals for the design of the afore-mentioned infrastructure works, in particular the Polihali dam and transfer tunnel, as well as advance infrastructure will be issued in the third and fourth quarters of 2014.  Consultants will mobilise and start with tender design in the first quarter of 2015 and tender documents for construction are expected to be issued from the end of 2015 through 2016.  Construction of major works is expected to start early in 2017.  Prequalification of engineering firms and contractors will be required for large infrastructure projects.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
C4/Seed joint venture (feasibility study), the TCTA (debt management and funding of the water-transfer portion of the project, as well as the operation and maintenance of the Delivery Tunnel North), Mops Civil (access road) and BKS (construction of measuring weir).

Contact Details for Project Information
Lesotho Highlands Water Commission, Leon Tromp, tel +266 5221 4035 or email leon@lhwc.org.ls.
TCTA, tel +27 12 683 1200, fax +27 12 683 1361 or email info@tcta.co.za.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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