Lesotho Highlands Tunnel set for six-month maintenance closure
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project Tunnel is preparing for a six-month closure as it undergoes planned maintenance, jointly undertaken by the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency and Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority.
The transfer tunnel links the Katse dam with the Muela power station and Muela dam and a delivery tunnel linking Muela dam with the Ash River Outfall works between Clarens and Bethlehem system, and was commissioned in January 1998.
The closure, from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, has been prompted by the need for extensive maintenance and repair works in the tunnels to ensure optimal water supply and will impact Integrated Vaal River System water users.
“The shutdown will have implications for water supply to South Africa during that period. The Vaal River System, as well as users along the Liebenbergsvlei river, will be affected, as well as Mafube, Nketoana and Dihlabeng local municipalities in the Free State,” the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) warned.
The DWS is currently engaging these municipalities and plans are in place to ensure that water supply to these areas is sustained during the shutdown period.
The closure will, however, have an effect on water availability from the rivers.
“The department would like to make all water users aware of this well in advance in order to ensure proper planning for this period. It will be of utmost importance for communities along the affected areas to use water sparingly during this period.”
Comments
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
Booyco Electronics, South African pioneer of Proximity Detection Systems, offers safety solutions for underground and surface mining, quarrying,...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Supplier & Distributor of the Widest Range of Accurate & Easy-to-Use Alcohol Breathalysers
VISIT SHOWROOM
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
