The Civil Engineering Contractor November 2018 | Page 29
Actual works have not yet
started, but early drilling is
under way.
In 2005, a Phase II feasibility study
was undertaken in two stages, aimed
at identifying further development
options and investigating the
preferred option in detail, which
culminated in the recommendation
of the Polihali Dam and transfer
tunnel
for
implementation.
Procurement for consulting services
is almost complete and advanced
infrastructure construction is about
to commence.
Phase II includes the construction
of a dam at Polihali and the Polihali
to Katse transfer tunnel, with a
significant investment into improving
road infrastructure and associated
environment and social programmes
that will benefit the communities in
the project area.
“The LHWP is one of the largest ongoing development
projects in the world. In 2006, the South African Institution
of Civil Engineering (SAICE) named the LHWP as the Most
Outstanding Engineering Achievement of the Century.”
Phase II gearing up
Tente Tente, Phase II divisional
manager of the Lesotho Highlands
Development Authority.
says Tente. The first phase is already
delivering approximately 25m 3 /
second, and the second phase will add
a further 15m 3 /second to total 40m 3 /
second. There will be further phases
to get to the final 70m 3 /second.
Phase I of the project comprises
the major water transfer and
hydropower components involving
the construction of a transfer tunnel
from Mohale to the iconic 185m-high
Katse Dam as the major intersection
of the project. From Katse Dam
there is a 45km transfer tunnel to a
hydropower generation plant before
the water exits Lesotho, through
a delivery tunnel to the Ash River
in South Africa as part of the Vaal
River water system. Phase II proposes
to add onto that with a new dam
and tunnel, as well as a new
hydropower scheme.
INSIGHT
Ian Massey, a civil engineer and
founder of MDA Consulting.
www.civilsonline.co.za
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