Lesotho Highlands Water Project maintenance works delays
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has announced a three-week extension to the closure of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project’s water transfer system and its delivery tunnels, citing delays in maintenance work at the Delivery Tunnel South in Lesotho.
Originally scheduled to be closed from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025, the shutdown has been prolonged due to unpredictable weather conditions and technical difficulties faced by the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency (LHDA), the implementing agency.
The 38 km tunnel transports water from Lesotho to South Africa, serving provinces such as Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and the North West.
DWS has reported that one of the main issues was higher-than-expected seepage in the tunnel due to a change in sandblasting techniques.
A shift from manual to automated sandblasting was hampered by high humidity.
In response, the contractor has acquired additional equipment to manage the seepage more effectively.
Maintenance work includes grit-blasting the steel-lined section of the tunnel and reapplying corrosion protection, alongside repairs identified during the 2019 maintenance shutdown.
This work is aimed at extending the infrastructure’s lifespan by another 20-30 years.
READ MORE: Lesotho Highlands water tunnel project to start on Tuesday
Spokesperson for the Department, Wisane Mavada, says a recovery plan is in place to expedite the work in Lesotho, though the delay could not be avoided.
“In South Africa, the maintenance work by the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) on the South African side is on schedule and will be completed on time."
Despite the tunnel closure extension, the recent rainfall has filled the Vaal Dam to 101.51% capacity, and DWS has reassured that the water availability for the Integrated Vaal River System will not be affected.
“Municipalities along the Liebenbergsvlei River in Free State won’t face water shortages due to the extended closure, as Sol Plaatjie (Saulspoort) Dam remains at satisfactory levels, currently at 82.1%,” added Mavasa.
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