MASERU — The Metolong Authority yesterday signed two contracts worth US$80.352 million (about M642 824 365) for the Downstream Conveyance System that will transport water from the treatment site to designated points.
The first contract, which is worth M377 692 404.11, is for the construction of the primary pipeline to Maseru.
It was signed with Unik Construction Engineering (Pty) Ltd.
The second contract which is valued at M265 131 961.84 is for the secondary pipeline to Roma, Mazenod and Morija.
Work would be done by WBHO Construction (Pty) Ltd.
The projects are funded by the European Investment Bank.
The Metolong project is an ambitious government-initiated that seeks to provide clean water for industrial and domestic use to the capital Maseru and other peri-urban areas.
The project is set to be completed in 2013.
The authority says the construction of the Metolong Downstream Conveyance System represents a major milestone in the realisation of the Metolong Dam and Water Supply Programme.
The system will enable transmission of up to 93.4 million litres of potable water per day from the Metolong Water Treatment Plant into the Water and Sewage Company (WASCO) network.
This would enhance the much-needed water supply for domestic and industrial use for Maseru and the surrounding towns.
Metolong Authority chief executive officer, Adris Mahmoud, said he hoped the two contractors would deliver as they had promised when they submitted their tender documents.
He said the authority would monitor them throughout the project.
Mahmoud added that local communities should benefit from the project now when it is being constructed, rather than only after it is completed.
Natural Resources Minister Monyane Moleleki said the initiative to build Metolong dam was discussed many years ago.
“This project was mooted many years back and I’m happy that actual work is now starting,” he said.
Divisional managing director of WBHO Contraction (Pty) Ltd, Denies Bean said the project would create jobs for Basotho.
Hongbo Hlang from Unik Construction Engineering said they would work hard to finish their contract on time.
In addition to the European Investment Bank, the Metolong Programme is co-funded by the Government of Lesotho and other development funders comprising South Africa, the World Bank, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Saudi Fund for Development, the Opec Fund for International Development in Africa and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
