EZULWINI: EWADE has appointed supervising engineers Isiphethu Consulting in Joint Venture with Lasicon and Consult Co to oversee Phase 1B of the Mpakeni Ngwavuma Water Augmentation Project (MNWAP). The work will entail the construction of the E157 million steel pipeline to carry water from the under construction Mpakeni dam to downstream farms ear-marked for irrigation.
This main conveyance pipeline is an innovation. Previously EWADE used surface canals to convey water from the Lubovane Dam to the Lower Smallholder Irrigated Projects (LUSIP 1) that waters smallholder farms in Siphofaneni and LUSIP 2 that extends water as far as Nsoko and Lubulini in the South of the Lubombo lowveld basin.
The Mpaken Dam that is planned to hold 540 million cubic meters of water that at full capacity, will be the biggest dam in the country and capable of irrigating 25,000 hectares of land. This is more than twice the area irrigated by the Lubovane. The pipeline tunnel conveying the water will be a huge tunnel that EWADE CEO Dr. Samson Sithole estimates will allow even a car to drive through.
The size of the pipeline will require contractors with high technical competence to build a tunnel that will extend water from the Mpakeni Dam for more than 50 km through four farming blocks covering 4,600ha of downstream agriculture enterprises.
The main conveyance pipeline was designed by the Italian engineering company, Studio Pietrangeli as part of the design contract for the “Mkhondvo-Ngwavuma Water Augmentation Project. The two part contract entailed detailed design and the preparation of tender documents for the Mpakeni dam and its associated irrigation scheme and the feasibility study for the transfer of water from the Mkhondvo River to the Ngawuma River, the detailed design and tender documents.
The consortium will use the Italian designs to develop terms of reference and detailed tender documents for the prospective construction companies to build the pipeline.
It is anticipated that once the tender details are finalized, the selected pipeline construction company will be onsite by September ready to start at the very latest, by beginning of 2026.
They will also provide onsite project supervision during construction of the 3 year project. The pipeline completion target is to finish either before or at the same time with dam construction in 2028. The plan is to be able to deliver water to anxious farms that will be anxiously waiting to start irrigating various crops on three contiguous blocks of farms stretching from Sigwe and Mconcwane/Mcathuvane in Shiselweni and Maloma and St Philips in the Lubombo Region.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at Ezulwini, EWADE CEO Dr. Samson Sithole explained that the JV complied with the Construction Industry Council Act which stipulates a minimum of 30% participation of domestic companies in government funded projects.
The South African Isiphetho holds 60% shares in the consortium. ConsultCo represented by its director Bongumenzi Magagula and Lasicon Consulting Engineers represented by Sidumo Dlamini have 20% each. They each signed the contract documents. Dr. Sithole praised the tenacity of the consortium who did not give up after making previous unsuccessful bids. He hoped the emaSwazi companies would gain relevant experience and be able to participate in subsequent phases of the project.
Dr. Sithole indicated that their plan is to harness water from two rivers to build three dams. The first dam on the Mahamba Gorge is unfortunately delayed. The chosen location is unsuitable because once it fills, the water will back up onto South African territory. This leave the Mkhondvo River on which two dams, the Mkhondvo Dam upstream near Nhlangano and the Themba Dam further east on the Mkhondvo River. These will provide enough water to irrigate a command area of only 25,000 ha.
“At the moment we have been able to firm up water for the Mkhondvo Dam and Themba Dam to augment Mpakeni. We found the location of the Mahamba Gorge is not ideal because the water might back up and spill into South Africa. As a result, we are currently seeking to identify another location for the dam.”
Nevertheless, Mr. Sithole promised that efficiency of the available water will be maximized to ensure that the farms produce two crops per year – some rotating cotton with beans in the same year.
A subsequent phase of the MNWAP under Phase 2A and 2B will see the construction of the Mkhondvo and Themba Dams and pipelines bring water to Mpakeni. This phase will enable the project to bring water to greater Lavumisa including Matsanjeni and Somntongo.
Jm/today/15.1.2025
