Name of the Project
Berg River Voëlvlei Augmentation Scheme (BRVAS).

Location
In the Western Cape, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
The Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) will fund and implement the BRVAS project on behalf of the Department of Water and Sanitation. The water users will include the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality, the Drakenstein district municipality, the Bergrivier, Saldanha Bay, Swartland and Stellenbosch local municipalities, as well as the Lower Berg Irrigation Board, besides others.

Project Description
The BRVAS has been designated a Strategic Integrated Project by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission.

BRVAS will abstract water from the Berg river in winter and pump it to the existing Voëlvlei dam. The new scheme will augment the yield of the water supply system by about 23-million cubic metres a year. The project comprises:

• abstraction works on the Berg river – a diversion weir, sediment traps and a 5 MW pumpstation;
• 6.3 km bulk water pipeline from the Berg river to Voëlvlei dam;
• appurtenant works – a canoe chute, fish way and access road;
• electricity supply and associated installations to energise the new pumpstation; and
• measures to mitigate the impact of the project on the environment.

Potential Job Creation
To be determined during the construction tender process.

Capital Expenditure
The project is estimated at R2.3-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
The City of Cape Town Council approved the water supply agreement with the Department of Water and Sanitation on October 27, 2022.

Latest Developments
Once finance from the National Treasury has been secured, a service provider or contractor will be appointed.

The detailed design of the scheme must still be undertaken.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Amanzi Entaba Joint Venture, or AEJV, a joint venture between Bigen Africa Group Holdings, Nyeleti Consulting and Gibb Holdings (consulting services).

Contact Details for Project Information
TCTA, tel +27 12 683 1200 or email ​info@tcta.co.za.