The Mokolo Crocodile Water Augmentation Project (MCWAP-2A) in Limpopo is set to receive a US $250M boost to accelerate the project.
The boost is a loan provided by Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) and the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) is responsible for the execution of the project. The MCWAP was initiated in 2010 to mitigate water shortages that hinder industrial growth and social development in Limpopo.
The project aims to construct two main bulk raw water transfer systems. Phase 1, which was completed in June 2015, included building a pumping station at Mokolo Dam and installing 43 km of pipelines to Lephalale, ensuring water supply to various end users.
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MCWAP project
Phase 2 of the project, MCWAP-2A, began in June 2019 and has recently secured additional funding from Nedbank. This phase is being implemented by the GBN consortium, which includes Gibb, Bigen Africa Services, and Nyeleti Consulting. The total estimated cost for completing all components of Phase 2 is over US $674M.
The project is expected to be completed by May 2026, providing a continuous supply of drinking water to the municipality of Lephalale and the broader Limpopo region. MCWAP-2A is expected to produce 75 million cubic meters of water annually.
The project aims to support; Eskom projects, mining operations at the Grootegeluk Coal Mine and local municipalities. Following MCWAP-2A, additional phases will include the construction of an upstream pipeline to bypass the river if conveyance losses are high, and the implementation of a transfer scheme from the Klip River in Johannesburg to boost the flow from the Crocodile River if necessary.
