Name of the Project
uMkhomazi Water project – Phase 1.

Location
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) subsidiary Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) and Umgeni Water.

Project Description
The project aims to transfer water from the undeveloped uMkhomazi river to the existing Mgeni system to further augment water supply to the Durban and Pietermaritzburg areas.

Phase 1 consists of bulk raw water implementation by the TCTA and bulk potable water implementation by Umgeni Water. The main components are a dam and conveyance infrastructure.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
R23.20-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The environmental authorisations and approved preconstruction environmental management programmes are now in place for the water conveyance infrastructure, and the Smithfield dam and associated infrastructure.

However, the construction and operation environmental management programmes are not yet in place and will be finalised only once the early engineering work and biodiversity scope and plan for the tunnel and dam are finalised and approved by the by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

TCTA is compiling the tender documents, which will enable it to procure the services of the professional service providers for the dam and the water conveyance infrastructure (tunnel and pipeline).

TCTA is hoping that, in the next two to three months, the tender document for procuring the services of such providers for the water conveyance infrastructure will be issued to the market so that it can start with the early engineering works, the development of tender designs and specifications for the main contractor that will be appointed at a later stage.

The DWS, supported by the TCTA, has also started with the consultative process, which will allow for the finalisation of the water supply agreements with the users later this year. This will assist with the funding process for the project, which, in turn, will allow for the start of the procurement processes for the appointment of the contractors at a later stage.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
TCTA, tel +27 12 683 12 31 or email info@tcta.co.za.