Question NW1258 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation

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21 May 2018 - NW1258

Profile picture: Basson, Mr LJ

Basson, Mr LJ to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation

What is the (a) status of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II and (b) estimated (i) completion date and (ii) cost; (2) whether any contractors have been appointed; if so, what is the (a) name of the contractor and (b) contract price?

Reply:

(1) To date 13 contracts have been completed, 23 contracts are still in progress, 10 contracts are at evaluation stage and 1 contract is at tender stage. Refer to Annexure A for the estimated completion dates and estimated cost.

Contracts in Progress:

The Polihali Dam as well as the Polihali to Katse Transfer Tunnel design is progressing well. Presently the Geotechnical drilling contract is 3 months behind schedule. Alternatives are being considered to mitigate any delays this may have on the above-mentioned designs.

 

Infrastructure, Social and Environmental consultancy work in progress are the design of:

  • Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Western Corridor,
  • ESIA Dam and Tunnel site establishment areas,
  • Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for Project Housing, main reservoir, Major bridges & road realignments (iv) RAP - Western access road and
  • Hydropower feasibility study now concentrating on the detailed feasibility of conventional hydropower generation at three sites.

Designs and tender documentation are ready to be issued by June 2018, of the following works are:

  • Western Access Road,
  • Power supply and Telecommunications.

Tender evaluation of the first three (3) construction contracts, were advertised in September and October 2017 are complete and is about to be awarded. The contract for the Advanced Infrastructure construction works are:

  • An Access Road,
  • Civil works at the Polihali Village accommodation area and,
  • The short Diversion Tunnel around the Dam wall to mitigate any delays when the Dam construction commences.

(2) No construction contracts have been awarded to date.

 

Annexure A

Phase II: Progress to date (Budget figures exclude escalation):

KEY items

Milestone dates

Budget at completion

Cost to date

Rand

%

Invoiced

Comment (Reference Program V11.0)

Administrative cost

Dec 2025

329 052 613

272 428 720

82.7

 

Advanced Infrastructure – design and supervision

Apr 2015 – Sept 2018

252 502 764

120 194 418

47.7

Average 2 months behind schedule. Budget includes supervision costs.

Advance Infrastructure – construction

May 2018 – Aug 2020

4 125 620 005

-

-

Various awards starts in May 2018

Polihali Dam - design & supervision

Jul 2017

465 103 216

13 541 039

2.9

Design on programme. Budget includes supervision costs.

Polihali Dam – construction

Feb 2020 (Start)

3 800 000 000

-

-

To be awarded by Feb 2020, Completion date - Dec 2025

Geotechnical investigations

Apr 2019

42 719 213

29 881 290

 

3 months behind due to flooding and cashflow problems. Alternatives considered

Diversion tunnel around dam wall – design and supervision

Sept 2016 – Sept 2019

82 460 557

22 883 723

27.8

On programme. Non critical item

Diversion tunnel around dam wall – construction

May 2018 – Sept 2019

-

-

-

To be awarded by end of May 2018

Polihali to Katse Tunnel - design and supervision

Nov 2017

920 000 000

-

-

Awarded in Nov 2017. Budget includes supervision costs.

Polihali to Katse Tunnel – construction

May 2020 (Start)

4 500 000 000

-

-

To be awarded by May 2020. Completion date – Feb 2026

Social development projects

Present to Dec 2024

128 722 147

39 862 675

40

3 months behind on average. Resettlements will be completed in time for construction

Environmental projects

Present to Dec 2024

53 646 560

26 837 363

50

Studies and designs on programme

Start impounding water in Polihali

Nov/Dec 2023

-

-

NA

On programme Ver 11.0

Water delivery into Katse Dam

By end Jan 2026

-

-

NA

Water in storage since Nov 2023

Volume of transfers to Katse Dam will be dependent on the agreement reached with Lesotho on the new Operational Rules of the LHWP

ESTIMATED COST AT COMPLETION INCLUDING ESCALATION AND CONTINGENCIES

 

24,326 bill

525 629 228

2.7%

Scheduled complete 3.48%

 

Source file