LHDA AWARDS LHWP PHASE II PROJECT HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE
WORKS CONTRACT
Maseru, 13 September 2015 – The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority
(LHDA) has awarded the professional services contract for the planning, design and
construction supervision of the housing and associated infrastructure for Phase II of
the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) to Polihali Infrastructure Consultants
(Pty) Ltd, a joint venture between Mott MacDonald PDNA (Pty) Ltd and Khatleli
Tomane Moteane (Pty) Ltd. Work on this R74.3 million contract commenced in early
September and should be completed in the latter part of 2021. This contract forms
part of the advance infrastructure works that must be completed to facilitate the
construction of the main works namely the Polihali dam and transfer tunnel and the
hydropower station.
This contract includes the preparation of preliminary and detailed architectural and
engineering designs of both the temporary and permanent project housing and
related infrastructure, preliminary and detailed design of utilities; preparation of
tenders and contract documents; the procurement of construction contracts; the
supervision of the construction programme and environmental monitoring during
construction.
The project housing works comprise accommodation facilities for the staff and labour
force, site offices, workshops, plant yards and other work areas.
Speaking at the time of the award announcement, Mrs Refiloe Tlali, CE of the
Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), added: “This is the biggest
contract of the Phase II contracts concluded so far this year. The quality of its
deliverables and the importance of its timeous completion cannot be over
emphasized, given Phase II’s timelines and the contribution the project
implementation is expected to make to the local economy. The LHDA is confident
that the Polihali Infrastructure Consultants Joint Venture, comprising Mott MacDonald
PDNA (Pty) Ltd and Khatleli Tomane Moteane (Pty) Ltd, has the capacity to deliver
the brief.”
Dempsey Naidoo, Mott MacDonald’s Africa managing director, commented: “The
next phase of what’s already proved one of the world’s most successful cross-border
water collaboration projects will bring benefits beyond increased water and electricity
supply and we are delighted at this opportunity to contribute further to the region’s
economic and social development. Drawing on our planning, design and construction
management experience across Africa and around the world, we are greatly looking
forward to working with our Lesotho architect partner KTMA to help deliver a wide
range of enabling infrastructure, from access roads and contractors’ working facilities
to housing, community buildings and tourism amenities.”
Some of the structures built as part of this contract are intended for long-term use.
These include staff accommodation in the Polihali reservoir area which will be built
as a village with all appropriate associated facilities; a visitors’ lodge at the staff
village which will become a tourist facility and the employer’s and engineer’s offices
at the dam site which will become the operations staff offices and a visitors centre on
completion of the scheme.
The facilities developed around the Katse Dam, the ‘Muela hydropower station and
the Mohale Dam under similar contracts for Phase I of the LHWP are still being used
today and have contributed to the growth of the country’s tourism industry and to
local communities. Some of the housing has been converted into guesthouses, or
into housing for the LHDA staff and the staff of other organisations based at the
Project sites. The school buildings at Katse and Mohale, which during Phase I of the
project housed workers, were handed over to the government of Lesotho and today
house the Katse High School and the Mohale High School which serve the
communities in these areas.
Ends
About
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) is four-phased, multi-billion
Maloti/Rand bi-national Project between the Governments of the Kingdom of Lesotho
and the Republic of South Africa.
It comprises water transfer and hydropower generation components and ancillary
developments. The water transfer component entails the construction of dams and
tunnels in Lesotho for the purpose of enhancing the use of water from the Senqu
(Orange) River and its tributaries by storing, regulating, diverting and controlling the
flow to effect the delivery of specified quantities of water to South Africa, and by
utilizing the delivery system to generate hydro-electric power in Lesotho.
The major works of Phase I included the construction of the Katse Dam, the water
transfer and delivery tunnels, ‘Muela Dam and ‘Muela Hydropower Plant and the
Mohale Dam. The Phase II water transfer component comprises a dam at Polihali
and a gravity tunnel that will connect the reservoir at Polihali with the Katse
Reservoir. The envisaged hydropower component will comprise the Kobong Pumped
Storage Scheme, or a similar scheme. The implementation of the Kobong scheme is
subject to agreement on the outcome of a joint final feasibility study.
The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) is the implementing and
management authority for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. It acts on behalf of
the government of Lesotho.
For additional information, please visit www.lhda.org.ls or contact Mrs Mabasia Ntoi
on +266 2224 6000 or +266 6321 5924.