Name and Location
Mzimvubu water resources development project, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Client
Department of Water Affairs (DWA).

Project Description
The Mzimvubu project will supply clean water to communities around the district municipalities of OR Tambo, Alfred Nzo and Joe Gqabi district, in the Eastern Cape, and in other parts of the province.

The project entails the construction of a dam to supply new water capacity for irrigation development, the establishment of domestic and industrial water use requirements in the Mzimvubu catchment, as well as for the potential development of hydropower.

The project will include the construction of the Ntabelanga and Laleni dams, on the Tsitsa river, a tributary of the Mzimvubu river.

The Ntabelanga dam, which will store about 490-million cubic meters of water, will be used for domestic and agricultural water supply requirements, while the Laleni dam will be used for hydropower generation.

The Laleni dam will be able to generate 35 MW of base power, or up to 180 MW of peaking power, when operated jointly with the Ntabelanga dam.

About 18.5 km of power lines will also be erected to feed the power into the national power grid.

The project is expected to create about 6 700 jobs a year during the construction phase and 6 500 jobs a year during the operational phase.

Value
The project will cost more than R12.45-billion.

Duration
First water delivery expected in about 2018, depending on the environmental authorisation and funding arrangements for the project.

Latest Developments
On April 11, President Jacob Zuma launched the Mzimvubu water project.

The detailed design of the Ntabelanga dam and its associated works and infrastructure is currently under way and is expected to be completed by June this year, after which construction is expected to start in November and be completed by February 2018.

This will be followed by the intensive construction of bulk water conveyance infrastructure, infield farming infrastructure and the building of the Laleni hydropower scheme in 2016/17, with first water delivery expected in early 2018.  

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
DWA, tel +27 12 336 8387 or fax +27 12 336 8664; or media liaison officer Mandla Mathebula, cell 083 282 6133 or email mathebulam4@dwa.gov.za.