Advance infrastructure construction on LHWP Phase 2 to start in January

Advance infrastructure construction at Polihali and Katse, which forms part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Phase 2, is set to begin in early January, following the award of a contract, valued at about 394-million Lesotho Maloti, to the WBHO and LSP Construction joint venture (JV). At Polihali, where the Phase 2 Polihali dam is to be built, the scope of work includes earthworks and the creation of platforms for buildings, water and wastewater systems, landfill, roads, drainage, electrical and telecommunications networks. At Katse village, the village built in Phase 1 to accommodate consultants and contractors working on the project, the works cover the upgrade of existing water and wastewater systems, a landfill site, as well as roads and utilities. Advance infrastructure comprises temporary and permanent housing and offices, labour camps, main access roads, bulk power supply and telecommunications transmission lines, to be completed before the start of construction of the main works, the Polihali dam and tunnel, in 2020. “The contract award is in line with the approved procurement policy and the provisions of the Phase 2 agreement, which advocates equal sharing of the monetary value of infrastructure works between Lesotho- and South African- registered contractors,” Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) CE Refiloe Tlali commented in a release issued on Friday. She added that it had taken “years of planning and preparation to get to this point, but come January 2019, with this second construction contract following that of the Polihali North East Access Road just recently awarded, construction vehicles will move on to site demonstrating that Phase 2’s seven-year construction period has started, bringing closer to reality the eagerly anticipated employment opportunities that the project brings”. The civil works and utilities contract is one of several critical advance infrastructure components which must be completed before the construction of the main Phase 2 works, namely the Polihali dam, transfer tunnel and the hydropower generation plant. Construction of this contract is expected to take a little over two years. Additionally, the LHDA has appointed Gauteng-based GA Environment as safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) auditors for the advance infrastructure of Phase 2. The contract started in early September and will run for three years. “The LHDA has developed a SHEQ management framework that is to be applied across all Phase 2 consultancy and construction contracts. “The primary aim is to ensure that Phase 2 is implemented safely and with minimal harm to personnel, plant, the environment and the public, within the parameters of the framework and the laws of Lesotho,” LHDA divisional manager for Phase 2 Tente Tente said. Phase 2 of the LHWP builds on the successful completion of Phase 1 in 2003, and delivers water to the Gauteng region of South Africa and uses the water delivery system to generate hydro-electricity for Lesotho. Phase 2 will increase the current supply rate of 780-million cubic metres a year incrementally to more than 1 270-million cubic metres a year. At the same time, it will increase the quantity of electricity generated in Lesotho and is a further step in the process of securing an independent electricity source to meet Lesotho’s domestic requirements.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kubota RTV-X900 delivers deep underground

Image
[Johannesburg, 30 May 2017]: With a rich founding history of gold and diamond mining, South Africa remains a leader in deep underground mining as well as safety in this arena, making the transfer of equipment and goods underground a task with little margin for error. Enter the Kubota RTV-X900. While the tasks involved in a successful mining operation are manifold, one of these is being able to move equipment, technicians and supplies from the shafts to the rock face; everything inside these tunnels must be brought from the surface. Due to the layout of a deep level mine, which could include many hundreds of kilometres of tunneling fanning out from the shafts and leading to the surface, this transfer is hugely complex and potentially very hazardous. In years past, the task of transporting goods from the surface underground and vice versa was carried out using a ‘cage’, from which the mining paraphernalia would either be physically carried or transported by wheeled trolleys to its po
Read more

SKF Ultrasonic leak detector - Quick and easy detection of air leaks TKSU 10

Image
The SKF TKSU 10 is an ultrasonic leak detector that helps users to quickly find leakages in compressed air or vacuum systems. The instrument is very simple to use and features adjustable sensitivity and intuitive guidance for superior leak detection results. Any compressed air system can experience leaks, which amplify the load on compressors and increase costs. The TKSU 10 helps users to easily find leaks from a distance, even in noisy industrial environments, via its ultrasound measurement sensor. The built-in LED display assists the user in adjusting sensitivity and shows the measured ultrasound noise from leaking air, allowing the quantification of leaks and prioritisation of repairs. It is easy to use and no training is required. The leak detection can be done from a distance in noisy industrial environments. The colour LED display assists in adjusting sensitivity settings and shows measurement values. The unit reduces energy and maintenance costs via leak identification an
Read more

Atlas Copco and Skills Development Corporation giving hope to the disabled

Image
In a bid to contribute to the much-needed skills development and work experience of disabled people, Atlas Copco South Africa partnered with the Skills Development Corporation (SDC) 12 months ago on 4 April 2017. Atlas Copco recognises the daily challenges the disabled face both in their private lives as well as in the business world. The 12-month initiative gave a number of leaners aged between 20 and 28 the opportunity to receive skills development while simultaneously obtaining valuable experience in the work place. The learning programme, hosted at Atlas Copco House in Jet Park, Boksburg, offered learners practical work experience from Monday to Thursday; every Friday learners attended lectures in General Business Management conducted by SDC Facilitator, Nozibusiso Nkosi. “We take pride in working with our future generation, teaching them the fundamental ins and outs of a corporate setting and at the same time boost their self-esteem and much needed confidence to pursue their ca
Read more