Lesotho Highlands Water Project begins dewatering process
The project is a connected system of dams and tunnels that divert water from the Lesotho mountains to South Africa, among other things.
FILE: An aerial view of a dam from phase 1 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Picture: http://www.lhda.org.ls/
JOHANNESBURG - The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) tunnel, which supplies over 700 billion litres to South Africa has begun its dewatering process.
The tunnel was shut down on Tuesday, in anticipation for a six-month maintenance project.
The project is a connected system of dams and tunnels that divert water from the Lesotho mountains to South Africa, among other things.
Part of the maintenance work at the Lesotho tunnel includes the re-application of corrosion protection.
In a site inspection conducted in 2019, engineers at the tunnel estimated the protection could only last another five years.
The spokesperson for the project, Mpho Brown, said it was important this maintenance was undertaken.
“The LHWP is a two-government agreement set up to ensure the livelihoods of South Africans and Basotho can be positively impacted through the use of this infrastructure. So huge supply of water on the RSA [Republic of South Africa] side and a supply of electricity (hydro-electricity) in Lesotho as well as collection of revenue from water royalties."
Brown said reserves of water had already been pumped to South Africa to make up for the shortfall during the shutdown period.