The Civil Engineering Contractor April 2019 | Page 12

INFRA AFRICA The Katse Dam. SOUTHERN AFRICA LESOTHO LHDA appoints engineering panel of experts for LHWP Phase II The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has appointed an engineering panel of experts for Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). The appointments were finalised in December 2018 and the panel’s first mission kicked off in January 2019 with a site visit to the project area in the Mokhotlong district. The panel members are from as far afield as the UK, Europe, the US, and Australia; all are highly respected and have earned international esteem for their specific expertise. Their combined knowledge covers tunnelling, bridges, concrete faced rockfill dams (CFRD), hydro-mechanical and geotechnical engineering, grouting, and construction. The LHDA’s appointment of an external panel of experts to provide technical reviews of the major works of Phase II reflects its commitment to implementing Phase II to the highest quality and in accordance with internationally recognised standards to minimise the risk of engineering errors, says Tente Tente, LHDA Phase II divisional manager. The joint mission followed closely on the formal site handover to the WBHO/LSP Joint Venture for the civils works at Polihali and Katse village. The scope of work under this contract includes earthworks and the creation of platforms for buildings, water and wastewater systems, landfill, roads, drainage, electrical, and telecommunications networks. The LHDA also has an environmental panel of experts engaged to review social and environmental activities. This is to ensure that its implementation of social, environmental, and public health programmes is in accordance with internationally recognised standards. Phase II will increase the current supply rate of 780-million m 3 /year incrementally to more than 1 270-million m 3 /year. At the same time, it will increase the quantity of electricity generated in Lesotho and is a further step in the process of securing an independent electricity source to meet Lesotho’s domestic requirements. nn NORTH AFRICA EGYPT China lends Egypt USD1.2bn for railway to new capital China has signed a deal to lend Egypt USD1.2-billion for the construction of a 68km electric railway, running from the outskirts of Cairo to the planned new administrative capital in the desert to the east of the capital. The new railway will link the 10th of Ramadan City outside Cairo to the new capital, taking in El Salam and other new cities. The loan from China Exim Bank, signed on 16 January, comprises USD739-million at an interest rate of 1.8% 10 | CEC April 2019 for infrastructure, and USD461-million with a 2% interest rate for the trains, reported Daily News Egypt. The loan is to be repaid over 15 years, with a five-year grace period. An initial agreement for the loan was signed in September 2018 during the visit of President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi to China. Officials said there would be 11 stations, and that the speed of the trains would reach 120km/h. nn www.civilsonline.co.za