Lesotho Water Project Governance
Ahmed M.Ashraf
Governance
2010
1- Overview of Lesotho Highlands Water Project
South Africa is a water scarce country and its neighbor, Lesotho is a water rich country categorized by high annual rainfall. South Africa in view of its increasing demand for water in the Guateng region (regarded as the heartland of South Africa) realized the water is going to be scarce in future1. The idea of transfer of water from water rich area (Lesotho) to the water scarce area (Gauteng, S.A) was conceived in 1950 which resulted in the signing of Lesotho Highlands Water treaty (LWHP) in 1986 between the government of Lesotho and South Africa for inter basin water transfer from Lesotho Senqu/Orange river in to Vall river which supplies water to water scarce region, Gauteng, South Africa2. The project comprised of 5 phases out of which phase 1 i.e., 1A and 1B were completed in 1998 and 2003 respectively with over 200 km of tunnels to divert 0.6 km3 water/year to the Guteng region3. The donor country i.e., Lesotho would in turn receive royalties which significantly contribute to the GDP of Lesotho and generates electricity for the Lesotho, making itself sufficient in meeting its electricity needs. Project was completed at the total cost of $ 8 million which was provided by World Bank, the development bank of South Africa, African development bank and the European development funds4.
1
G. Dut. De Villiers, P. M. U. Schmitz & H. J. Booysen. (1996). South Africa’s Water Resources and the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme: A Partial Solution to the Country’s Water Problems. Water Resources Development. 12 (1), p65-77. 2 Mwangi, Oscar. (2007). Hydro politics, Ecocide and Human Security in Lesotho: A Case Study of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Journal of South African Studies. 33 (1), p3-17 3 Ibid 4 Lawrence Keketso. (2003). Mixed Blessings of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project: An Assessment Based on Local Perspectives. Mountain Research and Development. 23 (1), p7-10
Governance
2010
1- Overview of Lesotho Highlands Water Project
South Africa is a water scarce country and its neighbor, Lesotho is a water rich country categorized by high annual rainfall. South Africa in view of its increasing demand for water in the Guateng region (regarded as the heartland of South Africa) realized the water is going to be scarce in future1. The idea of transfer of water from water rich area (Lesotho) to the water scarce area (Gauteng, S.A) was conceived in 1950 which resulted in the signing of Lesotho Highlands Water treaty (LWHP) in 1986 between the government of Lesotho and South Africa for inter basin water transfer from Lesotho Senqu/Orange river in to Vall river which supplies water to water scarce region, Gauteng, South Africa2. The project comprised of 5 phases out of which phase 1 i.e., 1A and 1B were completed in 1998 and 2003 respectively with over 200 km of tunnels to divert 0.6 km3 water/year to the Guteng region3. The donor country i.e., Lesotho would in turn receive royalties which significantly contribute to the GDP of Lesotho and generates electricity for the Lesotho, making itself sufficient in meeting its electricity needs. Project was completed at the total cost of $ 8 million which was provided by World Bank, the development bank of South Africa, African development bank and the European development funds4.
1
G. Dut. De Villiers, P. M. U. Schmitz & H. J. Booysen. (1996). South Africa’s Water Resources and the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme: A Partial Solution to the Country’s Water Problems. Water Resources Development. 12 (1), p65-77. 2 Mwangi, Oscar. (2007). Hydro politics, Ecocide and Human Security in Lesotho: A Case Study of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Journal of South African Studies. 33 (1), p3-17 3 Ibid 4 Lawrence Keketso. (2003). Mixed Blessings of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project: An Assessment Based on Local Perspectives. Mountain Research and Development. 23 (1), p7-10