Bidders sought for Phase 2 Lesotho Highlands Water Project

The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has issued three tenders for construction upgrading, geotechnical investigation works and resettlement planning services related to Phase 2 of the multibillion-rand Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP).

Phase 1 of the flagship project, completed in 2002, saw the construction of the Katse and Mohale dams, in Lesotho, as well as the development of a transfer tunnel between the Mohale dam and the Katse reservoir.

Phase 2 would comprise water transfer and hydroelectricity components. The water transfer component entailed construction of a concrete-faced rockfill dam at Polihali, downstream of the confluence of the Khubelu and Orange rivers, as well as the development of a gravity tunnel connecting the Polihali reservoir to the Katse reservoir.

Phase 2 would also include establishing advanced infrastructure, such as roads, camps, power lines and a telecommunications system, and implementing environmental, public health and social mitigation measures.

Geotechnical Investigation Tender
The first of three contracts invited suitably qualified contractors to submit tenders for geotechnical investigation works for the Polihali dam and the Polihali–Katse transfer tunnel.

Resettlement Planning Tender
The authority also called for tenders for professional services for resettlement planning and implementation related to the Polihali North-East access road (PNEAR) and site establishment areas.

An estimated 111 households may have to be relocated and agricultural fields, trees and graves will be affected.

Katse Lodge Upgrade Tender
Demand for accommodation at Katse Lodge would increase owing to the construction activities associated with the Polihali–Katse transfer tunnel and the PWAR. The purpose of these works is to modernise the lodge and increase its capacity to cater for the expected increased volumes of visitors.

Sealed bids for each of the three tenders must be submitted on or before April 6 and a mandatory prebid meeting and site visit would be held at Katse Dam Visitors’ Centre, in Lesotho, on February 18

By: Natalie Greve

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/three-tenders-issued-for-lhwp-phase-2-2015-02-03/rep_id:3182