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Metolong Dam and Water Supply Programme
Maseru, Lesotho’s capital city has in recent years undergone rapid urban growth which has put a strain on resources such as water. Currently, Maseru’s water supply system which caters for both domestic and industrial needs is overstretched and there is a pressing need to adopt measures to augment supply to the fast growing city and neigbouring towns.
The Lesotho Lowlands Water Scheme (LLWS) was established within the Ministry of Natural Resources to address water shortages in Maseru and other lowland districts. Central to the LLWS is the Metolong Dam and Water Supply Programme (MDWSP). The MDWSP’s main objective is the construction of the Metolong dam and associated infrastructure to supply potable water for domestic and industrial use to Maseru and the neighbouring towns of Teyateyaneng, Roma, Mazenod and Morija.
The dam will be built on the Phuthiatsana River, adjacent to the villages of Ha Seeiso and Ha Makotoko about 35 km from Maseru.
The programme comprises five major projects which are:
• Advanced Infrastructure: 32 km access road, power supply, water and sanitation,
telecommunications, construction camp and permanent operational facilities
• Metolong Dam: Roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam, 73m high, 210 crest length, a reservoir of
53m m3 capacity with a raw water pump station
• Treatment Works: Water treatment plant of 75Ml/d capacity and a high lift pumping station for
treated water
• Downstream Conveyance System: Transmission pipelines, associated pumping stations and storage
reservoirs
• Environment and Social Management Programme: Resettlement and compensation, water and
sanitation , integrated catchment management, environmental flow requirements, cultural
resource management, HIV/AIDS programme and environmental management plan
The programme is funded by the Lesotho government and a number of international donors as shown below;
• Government of Lesotho: US$32.8 million for advance infrastructure
• Millennium Challenge Corporation: US$86.5 million for programme management, the water
treatment works and the downstream conveyance
• World Bank: US$20 million for environmental and social impact management and the conveyance
system to Teyateyaneng
• Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (Kuwait Fund), The Arab Fund for Economic
Development in Africa (BADEA), The Saudi Fund for Development (SDF) and the OPEC Fund
for International Development (OFID): US$39.4 million for the dam design consultant and
construction contractor
• European Union: US$8.6 million for the design of the Lesotho Lowlands Water Scheme - South Africa: US$6 million for advance infrustructure phase 2
Programme Implementation
The MDWSP is executed by the Metolong Programme Implementation Unit (MPIU). Due to the complexity of implementing a programme of the nature of Metolong, the Lesotho Government made a decision to establish an autonomous Authority to implement the Programme. The MPIU will therefore be succeeded by the Metolong Authority once the Metolong Authority Draft Bill is presented to Cabinet and Parliament and approved.
Metolong Board of Directors
The Government of Lesotho appointed a Board of Directors made up of representatives from Government, civil society and non-governmental organisations. The Board is an autonomous body which oversees standards and principles by which the Metolong Programme is executed. Chief Executive Officer and staff (MPIU)
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Malcolm Murray, was appointed in April 2008. With the assistance of a team of managers who are professionals skilled in various fields, the CEO is responsible for delivering the programme within the budget, to deadlines and to prescribed standards.
Metolong Programme Management Unit (MPMU)
Camp Dresser McKee (CDM) were engaged in September 2008 to serve as project managers carrying out the day to day management of the Metolong Programme.
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