Lepelle Northern Water takes giant leap to secure water
LNW project manager Gundo Motsoare said phase 1B of the project will entail the upgrading of infrastructure to meet current and projected future demands until 2043.
POLOKWANE – Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) plans to spend approximately R20b towards upgrading the Olifantspoort/Ebenezer water supply schemes by June 2029 as a solution to the city’s water challenges.
This was announced by LNW chairperson of the board, Dr Nndweleni Mphephu during a media briefing held at the entity’s head office in the city on Friday, shortly after signing a R889m contract with two service providers who will implement the first package of phase 1A of this ambitious project.
Cerimele Construction Company (Pty) Ltd will be responsible for the civil works and Murray & Dickson Construction Group for the electrical mechanical work. The contract will see the restoration of the original production capacity to 114 Ml/day by June 2025.
A further contract of R3,7b will increase production from 114 Ml/day to 144 Ml/day by November 2026. LNW also plans to invest another R4b towards increased production from 144 Ml/day to 180 Ml/day by November 2027.
“We look forward to a fruitful and very productive working relationship and are confident that this project will reach completion through a seamless process during which targets and deadlines will diligently be met,” Mphephu said.
LNW project manager Gundo Motsoare said phase 1B of the project will entail the upgrading of infrastructure to meet current and projected future demands until 2043 by the synchronisation of LNW master planning with that of the Water Services Authorities, Capricorn District and Polokwane municipalities as well as support to the municipalities in implementing water conservations and water demand management.
Motsoare explained that during the 12 to 24 months and starting this month, the low-efficiency pumps and motors in pump stations 1, 2 and 3 as well as the Ebenezer high level pump station will be replaced and the plant design production capacity in Olifantspoort will be optimised to 90 Ml/day.
The refurbishment and commissioning of a vandalised package plant, providing 10 Ml/day as well as the rehabilitation of river crossings in the Ebenezer scheme and the increase of production from 60 Ml/day to 70 Ml/day at Olifantspoort will also be a priority.
Some of the other interventions include a dual powerline from Greater Tzaneen Municipality to the Ebenezer plant and the construction of the Olifantspoort weir and new abstraction works and raw water pipelines.
Phase 2 will see increased production from 180 Ml/day to 270 Ml/day by June 2029 and will cost around R10bn.
This solution depends on the availability of raw water from De Hoop Dam of 70 Ml/day to Olifantspoort as well as an increased allocation of 20 Ml/day to the Ebenezer Plant from the Tzaneen Dam.
LNW CEO Dr Cornelius Ruiters added that the Olifantspoort and Ebenezer Upgrade Project is aimed at supplying 1.7m people in 2045 with sustainable, reliable and quality water.
He added that 1 200 jobs are to be created during the construction phase of the project with a further 90 jobs after completion.
“LNW has been able to replace the aged Specon pipeline since 2018 using own funds of R99m for reduction of water loss, where over 54 jobs were created during the period,” he added.
