Name of the Project
Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) – Phase II.

Location
Lesotho.

Project Owner/s
The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) is the implementing authority and the Lesotho Highlands Water Commission the oversight authority.

Project Description
Phase II of the LHWP builds on the 2003 completion of Phase I, which supplies water to Gauteng and uses the water delivery system to generate hydroelectricity for Lesotho.

Phase II will increase the current supply rate of 780-million cubic metres a year incrementally to more than 1.27-billion cubic metres a year.

Phase II of the LHWP will be implemented in two distinct components: a water delivery system to augment the delivery of water to South Africa and a hydropower generation system, which will increase the current electricity generation capacity in Lesotho.

Polihali dam
The Polihali dam will be constructed as a concrete-faced rockfill embankment, with a side-channel spillway about 164 m high.

The crest length will be about 915 m, with a full supply level of 2 075 m above sea level. A 50-m-high saddle dam will also be built.

Polihali to Katse tunnel
The estimated 38-km-long, nominal bore 5-m-diameter Polihali–Katse dam tunnel will be constructed to transfer water from the Polihali reservoir to the Katse reservoir.

Water will be abstracted from the Polihali reservoir through two separate concrete bell-mouth intakes on the western side of the Polihali reservoir, in the Khubelu river, 3 km upstream of the confluence with the Senqu river.

Advance infrastructure
Phase II will require extensive infrastructure development before the mobilisation of contractors for the two main water-transfer works contracts of the Polihali dam and transfer tunnel. Where possible, the existing infrastructure constructed in Phase I will be used, including access roads, power supply, telecommunication systems and camps. Significant additional works contracts will be awarded for the construction of all-weather access roads, a bulk power supply network, telecommunications systems and project housing, as well as labour camps at both ends of the transfer tunnel.

A permanent housing development will soon be established near the Polihali dam and transfer tunnel, which will consist of project offices, and residential and community facilities.

The Polihali intake site will use the infrastructure developed to construct the Polihali dam and transfer tunnel. This includes feeder roads and bridges around the reservoir to connect affected communities, power supply systems, construction camps and communications. The infrastructure at Katse dam and in the Matsoku valley will also be available for the Polihali–Katse tunnel construction. Existing accommodation facilities will be used to house consultants and construction management teams. Improvements to the water and sewage treatment plants, clinic and lodge will also be undertaken.

Hydropower
The exact form of the Phase II hydropower component is still to be agreed following the completion of another feasibility studies report, which has been submitted to the Lesotho government.

Potential Job Creation
An estimated 3 000 jobs will be created at the height of the construction phase of the main works of Phase II.

Capital Expenditure
The Phase II water transfer component is expected to be R24-billion at completion in 2026. The cost of the hydropower component is yet to be established.

Planned Start/End Date
Water delivery commissioning and hydropower commissioning are expected in 2027.

Latest Developments
The tender for the construction of the biggest of three bridges that will span the Polihali reservoir and that will be built as part of the LHWP Phase 2 – the Senqu River bridge – has been released.

The bridge will be the first extradosed bridge, which combines prestressed box girder and cable-stayed elements in an efficient design, in Lesotho.

The bridge will be 825 m long and almost 100 m high.

Work on the bridge design started in 2018, led by Zutari, formerly Aurecon Lesotho. Zutari also designed the Mabunyaneng and Khubelu bridges and will supervise the construction of the three bridges.

The tenders for the construction of the major bridges is an important step preceding the imminent tenders for the construction of the Polihali dam and the Polihali transfer tunnel, the LHDA has said in a March 20 statement.

Interested construction firms have until June 18 to submit tenders. Specific information on the requirements and conditions of the tender is available on the LHDA website.

Construction of the Polihali dam will form the Polihali reservoir in the valleys and tributary catchments of the Senqu and Khubelu rivers, which will have a surface area of about 5 000 ha.

Owing to the depth of the valley and the inaccessible nature of the area where the Senqu bridge will be built, the deck of the bridge will be built incrementally from both abutments. An in situ segment midspan of the centre span will connect the two parts to form a continuous deck.

This construction method will minimise disturbance to the surrounding area and increase workers’ safety. It is envisaged that a steel launching nose will not be required. The pier shape is ideal to be built with sliding formwork, the LHDA has said.

The restoration of access across the reservoir also necessitates the construction of new-approach road sections to the bridges that tie into the existing A1 main road between the Mokhotlong district, in the north-east of the country, and the capital, Maseru.

Meanwhile, feasibility studies for the hydropower component of Phase 2 have concluded that conventional hydropower is the more feasible option to meet Lesotho’s energy needs.

Three potential sites have been identified: two on the Senqu river and one at Oxbow on the Malibamatso river. The plan is to commission the selected option and the water transfer component simultaneously in 2027.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
To date, several contracts have been awarded for various elements of the main and advance infrastructure works. These include:

Contract 3004: Professional services for the planning, design and construction supervision of the PWAR.

The LHDA awarded the contract to AECOM SA, together with Lesotho-based subconsultants AECOM Lesotho and RWB Consulting Engineers, in August 2016.

The tenders for the construction of the PWAR were advertised in the second quarter of 2018.

The PWAR west and the PWAR east contracts have been awarded to the HSPY JV and Rumdel/AC JV respectively.

The PWAR west contractors include South Africa-based Hillary Construction, Polokwane Surfacing, Ya Rena Civils and Lesotho-based Structuretone Construction.

The PWAR east contractor Rumdel/AC JV comprises South Africa-based Rumdel Construction and Lesotho-based  A&C Holdings.

The Northern Access Road (NAR) rehabilitation tender has been awarded to the HSP JV, which comprises Hillary Construction and Polokwane Surfacing and Structuretone Construction.

Contract 3006: Professional services for the design and construction supervision of the Polihali dam and appurtenant works.
The contract was awarded in June 2017 to Matla a Metsi JV. Partners are Mott MacDonald Africa (South Africa), GIBB (South Africa ), Tractebel Engineering SA Coyne et Bellier (France) and LYMA Consulting Engineers (Lesotho).

Contract 3007: professional services for the design and construction supervision of the Polihali transfer tunnel.

The contract was awarded in December 2017 to the Metsi a Senqu Khubelu Consultants (MSKC) JV. Partners are Zutari South Africa, Hatch Africa, Knight Piésold, SMEC South Africa and Lesotho-based FM Associates.

Contract 3008: Professional services for the bulk power supply and telecommunications.
The contract was awarded in August 2016 to Plantech-SM JV.

The contract for the construction of a 132 kV power line from Matsoku to Polihali was awarded to South African-based Mkhulu Electro Distribution Projects in October 2019.

Contract 3009: Professional services for the planning, design and construction supervision of housing and associated infrastructure.
The contract was awarded in June 2015 to Polihali Infrastructure Consultants – a JV comprising South Africa-based engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald and Lesotho-based Khatleli Tomane Moteane. The tender for the construction of the infrastructure civil works (including roads, water and wastewater systems, electricity and telecoms supply) was awarded in October 2018 to the WBHO and LSP Construction JV.

Contract 3010: Professional Services for the Phase II hydropower feasibility (further studies).
The contract was awarded in March 2017 to the EDF/GIBB/Multiconsult JV.

Contract 3013: A light detection and ranging, or Lidar, survey and aerial photography of the Mohale and Katse reservoir areas, powerline corridor and the Polihali Dam inundation area.
The contract was awarded in November 2017 to Southern Mapping Geospatial. The work has been completed.

Contract 3014: Professional services for the design and construction supervision of the Polihali north-east access road was awarded to the SMEC-FMA JV in April 2015.

Contract 3015: Professional services for the evaluation, optimisation and site supervision of geotechnical investigations.
The contract was awarded in May 2015 to consultant Jeffares & Green (now called JG Afrika) and Lesotho-based GWC Consulting Engineers. The contract has closed.

Contract 3017: Professional Services for the demarcation of the Polihali reservoir.
This entailed the construction of more than 1 300 beacons to mark the 230 km perimeter of the reservoir.
The contract was awarded in April 2015 to Lesotho-based consultancy Maleka, Ntshihlele, Putsoa JV.

The reservoir demarcation was completed in December 2015.

Contract 3020: Design and supervision of the construction of the major bridges to be built.
Zutari, formerly Aurecon Lesotho, has been appointed to design and supervise the construction of the bridges. The project also includes the realignment of the A1 national road in the vicinity of the bridges. Lesotho-based White Life Consultants and Leporogo Specialist Engineers CC of South Africa are the subconsultants.

Contract 3022: Professional services for the design and supervision of the Polihali diversion tunnels.
The contract was awarded in October 2016 to MSKC JV. The procurement of the contractors for the construction of the diversion tunnel started in the last quarter of 2017 and the tender closed in January 2018.

Contract 4005B: Construction of 33 kV line from Tlokoeng to Polihali and relocation of the 33 kV line along the A1.

Contract 4005C: The contract for the construction of the 132/33/11kV substation at Polihali and the upgrade of the existing substation along the A1 was awarded to the CLM joint venture (JV) in February 2020. The JV partners are Consolidated Power Projects (South Africa), LSP Construction (Lesotho) and Mofomo Construction (South Africa).

The contract was awarded in February 2019 to LSP Construction. Subcontractors: Dihlase Consulting Engineers (South Africa); Van den Ende & Associates Consulting Engineers CC (South Africa); NC Nelson Projects (South Africa); and Fibre Based Integrations (South Africa).

Contract 4012: Construction of the Polihali North East Access Road. The contract was awarded in October 2018 to the Sinohydro SA (South Africa) /Nthane Brothers (Lesotho) JV.

Contract 4016: Geotechnical investigation works for the Polihali dam and Polihali–Katse transfer tunnel.
The contract was awarded to geotechnical drilling company Diabor in November 2015. The investigations were completed in two stages – the first in May 2017 and the second in May 2019.

Contract 4022: SCLC Polihali Diversion Tunnel Joint Venture, which comprises Webuild (formerly Salini Impregilo), Cooperativa Muratori Cementistri CMC di Ravenna, LSP Construction and CMI Infrastructure, is constructing the tunnels, while the Metsi a Senqu-Khubelu Consultants Joint Venture (MSKC) has designed the diversion tunnels and is supervising construction. It includes Africa- and Lesotho-based firms Zutari,  FM Associates, Knight Piesold, Hatch Goba and SMEC. 

Contract 4023: Design, supply and installation of temporary offices and accommodation units.
The contract was awarded in August 2018 to the Senqu-Hi-Way JV. The JV partners are Senqu Construction Services (Lesotho), Hi-Way Parkhome and Container Services (South Africa). Subcontractor: Electromech Engineering Solutions. Work under this contract has been completed.

Contract 6004: Professional services for the environmental- and social-impact assessment (ESIA) for the Polihali western access corridor (PWAC).
The contract was awarded in October 2016 to a JV comprising Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Southern Africa and Lesotho-based Sechaba Consultants. In March 2018, the Lesotho Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture issued the LHDA with a record of decision comprising environmental authorisation for the proposed PWAC, following the completion of the PWAC ESIA and the associated environmental management plan, effectively granting environmental authorisation to proceed with the PWAC construction activities.

Contract 6006: Professional services for resettlement planning and implementation: Polihali western access corridor.
The contract was awarded in October 2016 to Makhetha Development Consultants. The subconsultants are Lesotho-based Senqu Engineering and Development Consultants, Motheo Holdings, Survey and Digital Mapping, Advocate Thato Kao(Lesotho), Puisano HIV/AIDS Training & Support Services and South African Setplan.

Contract 6010: Professional services for the development of a Phase II safety, environment and quality management framework.
The contract was awarded in September 2016 to Rori Management Consultancy.

Contract 6014: Professional services for the ESIA for the Polihali reservoir and associated infrastructure.
The contract was awarded in August 2016 to a JV comprising ERM Southern Africa (South Africa) and Lesotho-based Sechaba Consultants (Lesotho).

Contract 6015: Professional services for the resettlement planning and implementation of the Polihali site establishment and reservoir area.
The contract was awarded to the LIMA Thaha JV in September 2016.

Contract 6023: Professional services for the safety, health, environment and quality management audits for Phase II advance infrastructure works.
The contract was awarded in October 2018 to GA Environment (South Africa).

Contract 6025: Professional services for the development and implementation of a cultural heritage plan. The contract was awarded to PGS Heritage in December 2017.

Contract 9004: Professional services for services relating to principal controlled insurance. The contract was awarded to Minet in November 2017.
The registration of the assets of the households affected by the advance infrastructure has been completed and compensation payments have been initiated for the priority-site establishment areas for accommodation and roads. The registration of assets on the Polihali dam reservoir continues.

The LHDA is working closely with affected households and community structures to develop a resettlement programme that considers the wishes of the local people and this includes replacement housing.

The livelihoods restoration programme, which offers support to affected households through projects of their choice, with advice from LHDA and external experts, has started. It includes financial literacy, skills training and livelihood options awareness, all intended to support the restoration of sustainable livelihoods for those impacted on by the project.

The advance infrastructure will be largely completed before the start of the main works.

Water delivery is expected to start in 2026, according to the current master programme. However, the uncertainty caused by Covid-19 is expected to cause delays in the construction programme of the LHWP II and water delivery date, and may increase the total cost of the project.

Contact Details for Project Information
LHDA public relations manager Masilo Phakoe, tel +266 62857272 or email phakoem@lhda.org.ls.