Delays push up Clanwilliam dam cost by R400 million

One of government's so-called mega infrastructure projects, the dam is located in the middle reaches of the Olifants River in the Western Cape.
  

The project to raise the height of its existing wall was originally scheduled for completion by 2015.

In last year's budget documents, this was moved back to 2017. 

 

The latest completion date is now 2018.

"The total estimated budget for the project is R2.2 billion, with R1.8bn to be spent over the MTEF period.

 

The project budget has increased since 2012/13, due to cost adjustments made due to the delays in finalising the design and changes in the  cope of work."

The total estimated budget for the project given in last year's budget documents was R1.8bn, which means the delays have pushed up costs by R400 million, or more than 22 percent.

The project is aimed at making the dam safer during floods, stabilising "distortion" in the existing wall, and providing an additional 70 million cubic metres of water a year to downstream farmers.

 Work started in October last year on re-aligning the adjacent N7 national road, parts of which will be flooded by the rise in the reservoir.

 

Once this is completed, work on the project is set to get going.

 

Once construction project is expected to create about 650 temporary jobs in the local economy.

 

 

-Sapa