Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 2 Feasibility Study

Volume 2, Issue 1                                                                                            August 10, 2006

PHASE 2 FEASIBILITY STUDY

The Lesotho and RSA governments agreed on the 23^rd February 2004 to proceed with the feasibility studies of the further phases of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP).

The RSA requires a secure water supply system that will provide for the expected and planned residential, farming and industrial growth. The possible options include further development of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project so as to augment the supply to Gauteng , but there are other competing projects such as augmentation from Tukela River , and so cost-effectiveness must be demonstrated.

The Lesotho and RSA governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 22 September 2005 to commence the LHWP Phase 2 Feasibility Study immediately.

A bi-national Study Management Committee (SMC) is responsible for the award and subsequent supervision of the study: the SMC Team Leaders are Peter van Niekerk for the RSA and Sixtus L. Tohlang representing Government of Lesotho (GOL).

The Contract for the study was awarded to the C4 SEED Joint Venture and most of the stage 1 work is being carried out in their offices in Maseru Lesotho . The bi-national nature of the study is reflected in the partnership between the RSA firm Consult4 (C4) and the Lesotho firm Senqu Engineering Environment and Development Consultants (SEED Consult) and within the study team led by Andrew Tanner of C4 as Study Manager and Palmi Johanneson of SEED as Deputy Study Manager. Each study task team includes professionals from Lesotho and RSA.

THE ENGINEERING STUDIES

The engineering studies were planned to cover all of the options for further phases to follow the LHWP’s Phase 1. The Feasibility Study of 1986 identified several possibilities for Phases 2, 3 and 4, and the present study is covering all those options together with others now identified.

The staged development of the LHWP can only be planned in relation with the expected growth in RSA water demand, and depend on the rates of growth in such demand: later phases, if the demand for them materializes, may therefore be some years away.

Phase 2 options include dams at sites in the northwest in Lesotho, at Polihali near Mokhotlong from which area water could flow by gravity through a tunnel into the Katse Dam Reservior, or in a more central area such as Taung or Mashai from which water have to be pumped up into Katse Dam which was built during the LHWP Phase 1 system.

Phases beyond Phase 2 could be planned in a number of different ways, depending to some extent on what Phase 2 option is selected. The possible dam sites include Phase 3 (Tsoelike), Phase 4 (Ntoahae, Malatsi or Lebelo). The water from Lebelo could flow by gravity to the South if the other dams are constructed there, or be pumped via a tunnel to the existing dam at Mohale.

The added advantage of Phase 2 is that the 45 km tunnel linking Katse Dam and the ‘Muela Hydropower station will be able to take the planned 17m³/sec from Phase 2 thus postponing doubling of the transfer tunnel to Phase 3 of the Project. The 15 km delivery tunnel from the Hydropower Station to RSA has some constrictions that will have to be upgraded to take the Phase 2 flow.

As part of the study, Lesotho Hydropower needs are being assessed as well as Lesotho ’s potential to export electricity to RSA and other Southern African Countries.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN

The Public Participation Process is designed to engage all stakeholders, in Lesotho and in the RSA, throughout both stages of the study so that their views can be taken into consideration.

The first stage of the process has involved engagement with the stakeholders including communities in areas that could be affected by further phases of the LHWP. Public meetings were held at the centers in each area: projects displays and video presentations were made. Information was provided regarding the ways that Phase 1 of the Project had impacted on the communities and how those communities had been treated. The members of the public were encouraged to understand the further phases options that might affect them, and to express their views

The main issues arising from the consultations so far include compensation for impacts likely to result from the project, arrangements for resettlement where necessary, and issues of opportunity that may result from the Project including employment, facilities and community development.

The second stage of the process will involve re-engaging with all of the communities to explain what options have been selected as most likely to be viable. The study will focus on the selected options in more detail, taking issues that the communities have identified into consideration. The necessary responses to these issues will be assessed as part of the economics and viability, and the outcome will be an identified possible next phase of the LHWP that can compete with any alternative project on the basis of cost-effectiveness.

The study is due for completion in December 2007 and its results will be tabled to the Lesotho and RSA governments to make a decision on whether or not to implement Phase 2.

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