The decision follows extensive consultation with project authorities and lenders after it was established that “some of the lenders’ requirements were not adequately addressed in the prequalification process”.
The LHDA stresses that the lenders came on board after the prequalification exercise had already started. It adds that the tenders will be advertised in local, regional and international media, and on its website. Interested parties are encouraged to participate.
The proposed transfer tunnel will be around 38km-long and approximately 5m in diameter. Excavation is anticipated to be by both TBM and drill and blast.
Also forming an important part of the Phase 2 project are two parallel diversion tunnels on which excavation work started in June 2020. The tunnels (diameters 7m and 9m) will be around one kilometre long and will divert the Sengu River around the Polihali Dam construction site. Drill and blast is being used, with support provided by shotcrete and rockbolts.
The work is expected to take around 18 months to complete and is being undertaken by SCLC Polihali Diversion Tunnel Joint Venture.
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project aims to build several dams in Lesotho to capture the waters of the Upper Orange River Basin and reverse part of its flow in order to provide South Africa, and in particular the Johannesburg region, with drinking water. Electricity from the project will be supplied to Lesotho.
