By Libuseng Nyaka
The department of water and sanitation has shared progress of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) tunnel maintenance operations currently underway according to plan since the tunnel shutdown at the beginning of October.
Department spokesperson Wisani Mavasa has disclosed that the maintenance operations are undertaken by the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) on the South African side, while the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority is undertaking maintenance on the tunnel supply water to Muela Hydro power station in Lesotho.
“The tunnels have been drained of water and the process of de-watering took a whole week. Water from the tunnels was released into the Caledon and Little Caledon rivers in the Free State. ‘After the de-watering process, technical inspections were carried out in the tunnels and the cleaning of the rubble inside the tunnel was also done.”
She said the repair work on the tunnel will commence on 01 November 2024 until 28 February 2025 while the tunnel is scheduled to reopen on 31 March 2025.
“This will include various technical work of civil engineering work, sandblasting as well as re-coating of steel lining of the tunnel and removing corrosion that has built up for many years. The repair work will also be done on the precast concrete segment lining within the tunnel.”
Mavasa added that the Department of Water and Sanitation has established a War Room to keep track of the developments or progress on the maintenance work done at the tunnel.
“Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), TCTA and Municipal Managers from Mafube, Nketoana, Setsoto, Dihlabeng and Mantsopa Local Municipalities forms part of the war room.
“The war room is also constantly taking stock on progress of municipalities on dam levels, leak repairs, construction of water infrastructure and drilling of boreholes to ensure sustainable water supply to communities, particularly those that are affected by the tunnel shutdown.”
She requested the affected communities to fix leaks in their households and also to conserve water during the period of a tunnel shutdown.
