As part of routine inspection and maintenance of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project’s (LHWP) assets, the LHDA jointly with the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) has started routine inspection and maintenance works on the water transfer and delivery tunnels.

The current inspection and maintenance is a follow up to the works undertaken in 2012. 

This is to ensure continued sustainable operations and service of the tunnels and all electro-mechanical components from the Katse Intake Tower, through Muela Power Station to the Ash River Outfall.

Moreover, the LHDA will undertake installation of new state of the art water flow meters at Ngoajane flow measuring station and replace the valve at the ‘Muela Hydropower station bypass.

The TCTA is also undertaking routine inspection and maintenance work within the South African side of the border.

Reentseng Molapo, the LHDA’s Divisional Manager-Development and Operations (DM DOD), says this id done to ensure that the LHWP is able to deliver on its mandate of generating hydropower in Lesotho and transferring high quality water to South Africa.

According to Molapo, in order to ensure that the inspection and maintenance workers can gain access to the tunnels, there would be a stoppage of water transfer to South Africa and electricity generation in Lesotho.

This therefore means that during this period Lesotho will not be generating its own electricity but will rely on supply from ESKOM in South Africa and the EDM in Mozambique.

The first part of the operation, which is the repair work on the Katse intake commenced on the 19^th September 2019 while water delivery and hydropower generation stopped at midnight 30^th September 2019.

The electricity generation and the water delivery to South Africa will resume on the 30^th November 2019.