Study Commissioned by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme for the Lesotho National Environment Secretariat 

Technical Support and Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment of
 Phase 1B of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project

Study Co-ordinator: David Bourn 

Summary

 To capture and transfer water from Lesotho to the urban and industrial heartlands of South Africa; and, by so doing, provide revenue to Lesotho from royalties on water exports;

 To generate hydro-electric power for Lesotho, to replace that currently imported from South Africa; and

 To promote sustainable development of the highland region of Lesotho.

The LHWP is a complex, long-term project planned for implementation in stages over a thirty-year period. Phase 1A, valued at approximately US$2 billion, commenced in the late eighties and is now nearing completion. It involves the construction of: a 185 m high dam at Katse; a 45 km transfer tunnel to Muela; a hydro-power station and a 55 m high dam at Muela; and a 37 km delivery tunnel from Muela and across the border to the Ash river outlet in the RSA.

Phase 1B of the project is provisionally valued at US$1.7 billion. Preliminary construction work began in 1997 and commissioning is scheduled for 2003/4. It involves the construction of: a 145 m high rock fill dam at Mohale; a 30 km transfer tunnel from Mohale to the Katse reservoir; a weir on the Matsoku river; and a 6 km transfer tunnel from the Matsoku to Katse reservoir. Associated infrastructural development includes: communication lines, access roads, power supply and construction of a camp at Mohale. Implementation planning studies on health, socio-economic issues, natural environment, compensation, resettlement and development have been commissioned.

As proponent of the project, LHDA is responsible for preparing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Action Plan (EAP) for Phase IB, and presenting their findings to Government, funding agencies and the general public for scrutiny. In so doing LHDA is also responsible for ensuring that affected communities are involved in the planning and decision making process, and are fully informed of the implications of what is being proposed.

The National Environment Secretariat (NES) was established in 1994 in the Office of the Prime Minister and receives technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Secretariat is an umbrella organisation responsible for overseeing environmental affairs within Lesotho, including review of environmental impact assessments of major projects.

In support of this strategic capacity building and institutional strengthening initiative, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) was requested to provide technical inputs required for independent review of environmental impact assessment and mitigative planning process related to Phase IB of LHWP. Specific objectives of the UNESCO Mission are to:

 Promote public participation;

 Strengthen individual and institutional capacity;

 Conduct an independent review of the EIA and EAP for Phase IB of LHWP;

 Inform stakeholders of the findings of that review; and

 Provide a forum for international discussion.

The first UNESCO/UNDP mission provided technical support for a National Workshop on Environmental Awareness and Public Participation in the EIA of Phase IB of LHWP, held in Maseru in October 1995.

The next mission, in March 1996, focused on examination of various environmental baseline surveys and associated studies contributing to the environmental impact assessment.

A third mission took place in July 1996 to review the First Draft of the EIA, with a further visit in November 1996 to review the Final Draft.

The fifth and final mission to review the Interim Environmental Action Plan and participate in a Workshop in Maseru, hosted by the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority and the National Environment Secretariat, took place in April 1997.

Mission composition varied according to requirements and individual availability, representing a wide range of technical expertise from both north and south.