LHDA launches procurement for LHWP major bridges

NEO SENOKO

MASERU – The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has launched procurement processes for two major bridges, marking the last step in the procurement of Phase II major works construction.

Tenders for the construction of the Mabunyaneng and Khubelu bridges under Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) were advertised on Thursday last week. The procurement for the two smaller bridges follows the tender for the biggest of the three Phase II major bridges, the Senqu River Bridge in March this year.

“Procurement for the construction of the two bridges construction also follows the start of the Polihali transfer tunnel and Polihali Dam construction tenders in May and August respectively. It marks the last step in the procurement of Phase II major works construction,” LHDA’s Division Manager Ntsoli Maiketso said in a statement.

Maiketso added that each of the tenders is another step on LHDA’s journey to deliver Phase II of the LHWP on behalf of the government of Lesotho and South Africa as well as advance the economies of the two countries.

The new Khubelu and Mabunyaneng River bridges will be located upstream of the two existing bridges along the A1 road to provide access to Mokhotlong town across the two bridges. The construction of the major bridges will be carried out under two separate contracts.

Phase II of the LHWP builds on the successful completion of Phase I in 2003. It delivers water to Gauteng region of South Africa and utilizes the water delivery system to generate hydroelectricity in Lesotho.

The major works of Phase I included the construction of the Katse Dam, the transfer and delivery tunnels, Matsoku Weir, Muela Hydropwer Plant and the Mohale Dam. The Phase II water transfer component comprises a dam at Polihali and a gravity tunnel that will connect the reservoir at Polihali with the Katse Reservoir.