The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority has called on professional services companies to submit proposals for the environmental- and social-impact assessment (ESIA) of the Polihali reservoir and associated infrastructure that formed part of Phase 2 of the multibillion-rand binational Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP).
The request for proposals would close on September 14, 2015, with a mandatory prebid meeting and site visit scheduled for July 15.
The selected bidder would be responsible for the environmental and social studies for the Polihali dam, the Saddle dam and reservoir, quarries and borrow pits, the Eastern transfer tunnel, major bridges and project housing and site establishment.
The programme of the ESIA studies was closely aligned with the programme of the design consultants of the various project components and the selected ESIA bidder would be required to work closely with both external authorities and the other consultants responsible for social, environmental, cultural heritage, public health and engineering services on the project.
LHWP Phase 2 activities included advance infrastructure, such as roads, diversion tunnels, bridges, bulk power supply, project housing and telecommunications, and main works contracts, including the Polihali dam and appurtenant works and the Polihali to Katse transfer tunnel.