INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS
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Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II: Overview and Update
KEY COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT • Polihali Dam - 163.5 m high rockfill dam. - 49.5 m high saddle dam. • Polihali Transfer Tunnel - The dam will be built downstream of the confluence of the Khubelu and Senqu rivers in the Mokhotlong district, in the eastern highlands of Lesotho. - A 38.2 km long and 5.2 m diameter water transfer tunnel will link the Polihali reservoir to the Katse reservoir. • Hydropower - Feasibility studies are completed. It is decided that conventional hydropower is the best option. - Three potential sites have been identified: two on the Senqu River and a third site at Oxbow on the Malibamats’o River. - The plan is: • 2021 – begin the design of the preferred option • 2024 – begin construction • 2027 – commission at same time as water transfer component. • Advance infrastructure - This will largely be completed before the construction of the dam and tunnel begins: • roads • bridges • housing • offices • workshops • bulk power • telecommunications networks – support project implementation and benefit Lesotho in the long term.
SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES These programmes will address potential environmental and social impacts associated with Phase II activities. They include: • Four baseline studies that were completed in 2013 and 2014: - socio-economic - instream flow requirements - biological and archaeological - public health. • Those baseline studies, together with extensive engagement from local communities and interested parties informed these programmes: - Environmental and social impact assessments, and the development and implementation of environmental and social management plans. - Resettlement assessments and the development and implementation of resettlement actions plans to include livelihood restoration programmes and compensation. - The development and implementation of public health action plans. • The resultant sustainable development programmes to be designed and implemented will be agreed upon with the affected communities.
Civil engineering works of Polihali Camp
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IMIESA April 2021
