LHDA - Lesotho Highlands Water Project: Phase II - Maseru - Project Profile

Synopsis
"LHDA - Lesotho Highlands Water Project: Phase II - Maseru - Project Profile" contains information on the scope of the project including project overview and location. The profile also details project ownership and funding, gives a full project description, as well as information on contracts, tendering and key project contacts.

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Scope
The project involves Polihali Dam with a capacity to hold 2.2 billion m3 of water in the Mokhotlong district, Lesotho.

The US$1,020 million project includes the following:

1. Construction of a 163.5m high Polihali Dam

2. Construction of a 49.5m high Polihali saddle dam

3. Construction of intake tower 70m high and 8m in diameter.

4. Construction of a 38.2km long 5.2m wide tunnel

5. Construction of a 3.8km access road

6. Construction of a 1,200MW hydro-power station

7. Construction of transmission lines

8. Construction of a 101m Kobong dam

9. Construction of a pumping station

10. Construction of a measuring weir

11. Construction of other facilities
Summary
The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), a joint venture between the governments of Lesotho and South Africa is planning to undertake the second phase of Highlands Water Works Development project in Mokhotlong district, Lesotho.

The project includes two components namely water delivery system and a hydro-electric power generation system.

The water delivery system comprises of Polihali Reservoir on the Senqu River and a water conveyance tunnel connecting Polihali Reservoir with Katse Reservoir. This water tunnel will also provide access roads to the project sites, camps, power transmission lines and administration centers.

The exact format of the hydropower component is still to be determined.

The project involves the construction of a 163.5m high Concrete-Faced Rockfill Dam (CFRD) at Polihali on the Senqu river with a capacity to hold 2.2 billion m3 of water, 49.5m high saddle Embankment Dam, 70m high and 8.0m diameter, free-standing Polihali Intake tower, 38.2km long, 5.2m and concrete-lined tunnel connecting Polihali and Katse Reservoir tunnel connecting Polihali and Katse Reservoir.

The project will include, the Possible raising of the crest level and installation of radial gates at the ‘Muela Tail Pond Dam, the advance infrastructure include access roads, feeder roads, management and labor camps, telecommunications systems, construction power system.

Construction of 101m high dam at Kobong and 1,200MW pump storage hydropower scheme connecting Katse and Kobong reservoirs are also included in phase II infrastructure.

The project is being funded by a World Bank-led consortium including African Development Bank, the European Development Fund, Development Bank of South Africa, European commercial banks and several export credit agencies along with the governments of Lesotho and South Africa.

On September 22, 2005, LHDA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to commence the feasibility study on the second phase.

The C4-SEED joint venture including the Consult4 of South Africa and Senqu Engineering Environment and Development Consultants of Lesotho was appointed as the feasibility study consultant for the second phase of the project.

In August 2006, study activities on the second phase commenced and were completed in the second quarter of 2009.

On August 11, 2011, the development agreement was signed between the governments of Lesotho and South Africa.

On July 12, 2012, Lesotho based Mops Civil was awarded the construction contract for the access road and South African company BKS was awarded the construction contract for the measuring weir on the project.

Later, LHDA commenced with the pre-qualification process for the Project Management Unit (PMU). Twenty companies responded to the invitation for Expression of Interest and in November 2011 a short list of 6 entities was approved.

In December 2011, Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued to the shortlisted companies, with the tender closing date as January 30, 2012. The evaluation process concluded in August 2012.

However, the contract was not awarded, pending ratification by the respective governments. Ratification took place in May 2013 and the PMU Contract was awarded to CDM International Inc. on July 16, 2013. PMU has been appointed on a technical assistance contract to implement the project covering all aspects that include engineering, environment, Social Development, Public Relations, Public Health, and Contracts Administration.

On August 19, 2013, PMU commenced its assigned work.

In June 2013, LHDA received approvals from the South Africa and Lesotho governments on the second phase.

In November 2013, LHDA invited applications from the consultants to appoint an independent oversight committee (IOC) with December 13, 2013, as the submission deadline for the second phase.

The IOC will be monitoring the implementation of the project and its milestones.

On March 27, 2014, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the second phase.

On October 15, 2014, LDHA announced Specific Procurement notice (RPF) for Professional Services for the Planning, Design and Construction Supervision of the Project Housing and Associated Infrastructure within the project. January 15, 2015, will the last date for submission of sealed bids.

In April 2015, World Bank approved a grant for the LHDA to conduct feasibility studies on hydropower component of the project.

Maleka, Ntshihlele, Putsoa Joint Venture, was appointed to install the beacons to demarcate the Polihali reservoir.

The construction of the beacons to mark the perimeter of the reservoir began in the first quarter of 2015. Construction of the more than 1300 beacons was completed in November 2015.

The contract for professional services for the design and construction supervision of the Polihali North East Access Road was awarded to SMEC-FMA Joint Venture.

In May 2015, the contract for the Professional Services for the evaluation, optimization and site supervision of geotechnical investigations was awarded to Jeffares & Green in association with GWC Consulting Engineers.

In June 2015, the contract for professional services for the planning, design and construction supervision of the housing and associated infrastructure was awarded to Polihali Infrastructure Consultants (Pty) Ltd, a joint venture between MottMacDonald PDNA (Pty) Ltd and Khatleli Tomane Moteane (Pty) Ltd. Master planning is underway.

In July 2015, LHDA solicited Expression of Interest (EoI) from suitably qualified consultants. A total of 24 proposals were received and after evaluation, six consultants were shortlisted to participate in a competitive bidding process.

In October 2015, the six shortlisted consultants were requested to submit their proposals for the feasibility studies on hydropower component. The technical bids were evaluated in January 2016.

On May 3, 2016, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) approved the contract for the construction of the diversion tunnel of the project.

On May 9, 2016, LHDA issued tenders for professional services for the procurement of documents on External Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the project with a submission deadline of June 27, 2016.

In July 2017, LHDA appointed the Matla a Metsi a joint venture, comprises GIBB (Pty) Ltd, Mott MacDonald Africa (Pty) Ltd (both from South Afrca), Tractebel Engineering SA and Coyne et Bellier (France), and LYMA Consulting Engineers (Lesotho) to design and oversee the construction of the project. The contract is worth US$33 million.

In October 2017, LHDA has floated the first of twenty infrastructure construction tenders.

In January 2018, LHDA appointed the Metsi a Senqu-Khubelu Consultants (MSKC) a joint venture for designing and supervising the construction of the Polihali water transfer tunnel.

MSKC comprises FM Associates (Pty) Ltd (Lesotho), Aurecon (Pty)Ltd, Hatch (Pry) Ltd, Knight Piesold (Pty) Ltd and SMEC (Pty) Ltd (South African firms). Sub- consultants include White Life Consultants (Pty) Ltd, S5 Construction Consultants, (both Lesotho) and ILISO Consulting (Pty) Ltd (South Africa).

The project is facing delay due to regulatory issues.
Reasons To Buy
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Key highlights