The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has appointed three consultants for work packages as part of Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP).

The contracts, worth a collective M40-million, were awarded to the SMEC-FMA joint venture (JV); Jeffares & Green, in association with GWC Consulting Engineers; and the Maseru-based Maleka, Ntshihlele, Putsoa JV.

LHDA CE Refiloe Tlali described the developments as a significant step for the LHWP and another step towards strengthening the country’s economy. The contracts formed part of the advanced infrastructure works for the R17.5-billion project by the governments of Lesotho and South Africa.

The contracts included the design and supervision of the construction of the Polihali North East access road; the supervision of geotechnical investigations for the Polihali dam and the Polihali–Katse water transfer tunnel; and the demarcation of the Polihali reservoir.

The Polihali North East access road contract, overseen by the SMEC-FMA JV would entail the upgrade of the existing road to a standard suitable for the safe movement of construction vehicles during the mobilisation of machinery and facilities for other advance infrastructure contractors.

The Jeffares & Green JV would undertake the supervision of the geotechnical investigations for the Polihali dam and the Polihali–Katse water transfer tunnel. This would involve extraction of rock and soil for testing to provide comprehensive data for the dam and tunnel design consultants.

The Polihali Reservoir contract, awarded to Maleka, Ntshihlele, Putsoa JV, entailed surveying and building beacons around the perimeter of the Polihali reservoir at a level 5 m higher than the full supply level.

Reservoir demarcation was critical for the acquisition of land and the resettlement and compensation of people in the district, whose homes and livelihoods would be affected by the construction of the dam.

The implementation of environmental and social mitigation measures would also start shortly, in advance of the main access roads, and the dam and tunnel contracts.