Lesotho Highlands Water Project Tunnel Closure Extended Due to Maintenance Issues
The closure of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project tunnels has been extended by three weeks due to maintenance delays. The department attributed these delays to weather changes and seepage issues from new techniques used in sandblasting. Despite these challenges, nearby municipalities will not face water shortages.
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project’s (LHWP) water transfer and delivery tunnels will undergo a three-week extension of their closure due to maintenance delays. The water and sanitation department reported that the new reopening date will be announced once the required maintenance work on the delivery tunnel in southern Lesotho is completed. Originally, the closure was scheduled from October 1 to March 31, but complications arising from weather changes and other technical issues have necessitated the extension.
The spokesperson for the department, Wisane Mavasa, noted that increased seepage within the tunnel stemmed from a transition from manual to automated sandblasting methods. This shift was negatively impacted by high humidity, leading to the flow of maintenance work being compromised. In an effort to address these challenges, the contractor has acquired additional equipment to manage seepage more effectively.
Mavasa also mentioned that the recovery plan was initiated to expedite maintenance progress but unfortunately faced unavoidable delays. Meanwhile, maintenance efforts in South Africa, conducted by the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority, remain on schedule and are expected to conclude timely.
In summary, the duration of the closure for the LHWP tunnels has been extended by three weeks, primarily due to unanticipated maintenance delays and technical difficulties caused by changing weather patterns. However, the water department assures users that the current water availability for the Integrated Vaal River System will remain unaffected, given the optimal conditions of surrounding dams, particularly the Vaal Dam and Saulspoort Dam.
Original Source: www.timeslive.co.za
