Name and Location
Metolong dam and water supply programme (MDWSP), Lesotho.

Client
The Metolong Programme Implementation Unit (MPIU) of the Metolong Authority is charged with the responsibility of implementing the programme.

Project Description
The project is being implemented by Lesotho as a strategy to provide potable water for commercial and industrial use to Maseru and the towns of Roma, Mazenod, Morija and Teyateyaneng.

The MDWSP, which is being built on the Phuthiatsana river and forms part of a larger programme designed to cater for the long-term water needs of the lowland areas in Lesotho, comprises five main components: the construction of the Metolong dam – a 83-m-high roller-compacted concrete (RCC) dam, with a design crest length of 280 m; water treatment works; a downstream conveyance system; an advanced infrastructure plan; and environmental and social management. The Metolong dam is expected to provide an additional 75 000 m³ of clean water for about 385 000 people by 2013.

Value
The US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has provided $86,8-million to meet the costs of a programme management consultant, the water treatment works design-build contractor and the downstream transmission system construction contractor.

A consortium of Arab donors, comprising the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), the Opec Fund for International Development (OFID), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Saudi Fund for Development, is providing a basket of funds equivalent to $39-million. They will support the construction of the dam works and associated pumping station, the engineering services for the detailed dam design, the preparation of tender documents for the construction and supervision of dam construction and the cost of a panel of dam experts. The World Bank is making $20-million available towards the cost of the environmental- and social-impact assessments, as well as for the construction of the conveyance system to Teyateyaneng.

The government of Lesotho will provide funding of $32.8-million for the MPIU and advanced infrastructure, besides other activities that are currently under way.

Duration
The Metolong dam is scheduled for completion in September 2014.

Latest Developments
After missing its targeted April completion date, as a result of heavy rainfall in the area, the Metolong dam is expected to be completed by September, fly ash product manufacturer and project supplier Ash Resources has stated.

Ash Resources has supplied about 22 000 t to date of its classified siliceous fly ash to Sinohydro, the Chinese contractor for the Metolong dam project, which includes the development of the inlet tower and associated pumping station.

A further 11 000 t of fly ash will be required to complete the dam contract.

Ash Resources has also delivered about 4 000 t of fly ash to other contractors and ready-mixed concrete producers for the construction of the MDWSP’s water purification works, a raw-water reservoir and portions of the pipelines.

Meanwhile, Sinohydro has established an on-site batch facility to provide the estimated required 280 000 m³ of RCC and 40 000 m³ of conventional vibrated concrete.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
MCC, the KFAED, the OFID, the BADEA, the Saudi Fund for Development and the World Bank, the International Development Association (IDA), the European Investment Bank (EIB) (funding); Arcus Gibb Holdings, in joint venture with Consolidated Consultants for Engineering & Environment (engineering services for the Metolong dam); European Development Funds managed by the European Commission (design of conveyance system) and Ash Resources (fly ash).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
EIB media contact Richard Willis, tel +352 621 555 758 or email willis@eib.org.
MPIU public relations manager Matseliso Makoele, tel +266 2231 5789,cell +266 5885 7048 or email info@metolong.org.ls.