Construction of Polihali Dam and Transfer Tunnel set to start
Maseru, 4 November 2022 - Today the Lesotho Highlands Development
Authority (LHDA) announced the Polihali Dam and Polihali Transfer Tunnel
construction contract awards, the two biggest Phase II contracts to date. These
milestone awards mark the start of the final lap of the water transfer
infrastructure construction. Work on the multibillion Maloti contracts
commences in November and December respectively, and commissioning is
expected in 2028.
"This is an exciting moment for the Project and the LHDA. With our experience
in successfully delivering large and complex infrastructure projects, we are
confident that we will deliver quality engineering showpieces even as we
carefully manage impacts on people and the environment," confirmed Tente
Tente, Chief Executive, LHDA. "Both joint ventures include Lesotho, South
African and international companies in keeping with Article 10 of the Phase II
Agreement."
"Training young professionals and LHDA staff for the purposes of operating and
maintaining the dam and tunnel is part of the skills and technology transfer
element of the projects," added Ntsoli Maiketso, Phase II Divisional Manager,
LHDA.
The contract amount for the Polihali Dam is approximately M?.68 billion. The
successful Polihali Dam bidder is the SUN Joint Venture, comprising main
partners: Sinohydro Bureau 8 (China); Sinohydro Bureau 14 (China); Unik Civil
Engineering (South Africa) and Nthane Brothers (Lesotho). Subcontractors
include Melki Civils and Plant Hire (South Africa); MECSA Construction (South
Africa); SIGMA Construction (Lesotho) and Kunming Engineering (China).
Notice of Award will be published on the LHDA website as per norm, which will
include other bidders and how they performed. Construction will be supervised
by the Matla a Metsi Joint Venture, comprising GIBB (South Africa); MPAMOT
Africa (South Africa); Tractebel Engineering SA/Coyne et Bellier (France) and
LYMA Consulting Engineers (Lesotho).
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Lesotho Highlands Development Authority
P.O. Box 7332, MllSelU 100, Lesotho • Telephone: (+266) 22 246 000 / 22 311 280 • Fax: (+266) 22 310 665 • F.mail: lhwpOlhda.org.ls
The Kopana Ke Matla joint venture, which will construct the Polihali Transfer
Tunnel, includes Yellow River Company (China); Sinohydro Bureau 3 (China);
Unik Civil Engineering (South Africa), the main joint venture partners.
Subcontractors include Nthane Brothers of Lesotho, Esor Construction and
Mecsa Construction of South Africa. The contract amount for the Polihali
Transfer Tunnel is approximately M9.2 billion.

Notice of Award will be published on the LHDA website as per norm, which will
include other bidders and how they performed. Construction will be supervised
by Metsi a Senqu-Khubelu Consultants (MSKC) joint venture. MSKC comprises
Lesotho-based FM Associates and South African firms Zutari South Africa,
Hatch Africa, Knight Piesold and SMEC South Africa , the main JV partners.
Phase II adds 2 325 million cubic metres in storage capacity to the LHWP and
will increase the current annual supply rate capacity from 780 million cubic
metres to 1 270, contributing towards meeting South Africa's increasing water
needs. The additional flow of water from Polihali will simultaneously increase
power generation within Lesotho towards meeting Lesotho's domestic needs
and reducing the country's dependence on electricity imports.

The Polihali Dam is a concrete-faced rockfill dam, like the majestic Mohale Dam
which was constructed in Phase I of the LHWP. It will create a reservoir on the
Senqu and Khubelu rivers with a surface area of 5 053 hectares. The
infrastructure also includes a spillway, a compensation outlet structure and a
mini-hydropower station.

The Polihali Transfer Tunnel will transfer water by gravity from the Polihali
reservoir to the Katse reservoir, the centrepiece of the LHWP. From Katse,
water is transferred via the delivery tunnel to the 'Muela Hydropower Station
constructed in Phase I, and then on to the Ash River outfall outside Clarence in
the Free State on its way to Gauteng.

The Polihali Transfer Tunnel works also include the intake works and gate shaft
at the Polihali reservoir; outlet works and gate shaft at the existing Katse
reservoir, with underwater connection to the lake; access adits to the waterway
and associated construction infrastructure.

The envisaged transfer tunnel will be approximately 38 kilometres long with a
nominal bore of five metres. Both tunnel boring and drill and blast methods will
be used to excavate the tunnel.
Procurement for the design and construction superv1s1on of the Oxbow
Hydropower Scheme, also critical to Phase 11, has recently started with March
2023 as deadline for the submission of bids for engineering, environmental and
social consultants.

Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project builds on the successful
completion of Phase I in 2003.