Construction World January 2017

COMMENT

This project will increase water supply from Lesotho to Gauteng, but there have been major delays with starting with the second phase. There is light at the end of the tunnel though. The Lesotho Highland Development Aughority (LHDA) recently announced that the engineering design contracts for the two main water transfer components of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II will be awarded by mid-2017 and that construction will begin 18 months thereafter. This R23-billion project is being financed by the Trans- Caledon Tunnel Authority. It was expected to have been operational by 2020, but it will now (hopefully) be operational by 2025. The delay has been attributed to the ratification of a 2011 Phase II agreement as well as delays in finalising key policies. However, the LHDA now maintains that the political, legal, policy, environmental and funding frameworks are in place to ensure that the project is implemented. It also indicates that various projects to support the implementation (roads, power lines, housing, relocation etc.) have already been awarded. The release of water from the Sterkfontein Dam to replenish the level of the Vaal Dam – the main source of water of Gauteng, South Africa’s economic heartland – highlighted two things: that South Africa is an extremely water scarce country and that the endless delays of Phase II for Lesotho Highlands Water Project indicate that South Africa lacks critical water-planning skills.

The Katse Dam in Lesotho when it overflowed a few years ago. This dam is currently (December 2016) about 40% full. It has a full storage capacity of 1 519 million cubic metres.

What Phase II will entail The water transfer component will include the construction of the Polihali dam that will be situated downstream from the confluence of the Khubelu and Senqu rivers as well as a 38 km tunnel that will connect the Polihali dam to the Katse reservoir. The Polihali dam is southeast of Phase I – the Katse and Mohale dams and its related transfer tunnels that enable it to convey water from Lesotho into the Vaal system. This phase will also have a hydropower component and will generate 1 200 MW. This component will be ready for commissioning when the first water flows to South Africa by 2025. The LHDA is confident that when the respective contracts for the dam and tunnel are awarded, the process will naturally accelerate. It is always good to start a new year off with good news. Unfortunately the good in this will be dependent on whether timelines are adhered to. Wilhelm du Plessis Editor

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EDITOR & DEPUTY PUBLISHER Wilhelm du Plessis constr@crown.co.za ADVERTISING MANAGER Erna Oosthuizen ernao@crown.co.za LAYOUT & DESIGN Lesley Testa CIRCULATION Karen Smith

PUBLISHER Karen Grant

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD JANUARY 2017