Multiconsult builds on long history in Lesotho with new award

Multiconsult will undertake feasibility studies for suggested hydropower and pumped-storage schemes in Lesotho. The project is part of the Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, financed by the World Bank.

7. March 2017

Landmark project

Lesotho Highlands Development Authority appointed Multiconsult UK and Multiconsult Norway, in a Joint Venture with EdF (France) and GIBB (South Africa), to prepare feasibility studies of hydropower potential including a pumped storage scheme for Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

The contract was awarded late autumn 2016 and signed in January 2017. The study constitutes all relevant technical, economic, environmental and social issues related to pumped storage schemes as well as conventional hydropower from screening level (multiple projects) down to feasibility of the most bankable candidates.

– We are very proud to be working with GIBB and EdF on this landmark project. The numerous benefits realised by this project will benefit both Lesotho and South Africa and bring much needed renewable energy to the area. This commission once again highlights how our extensive expertise in hydropower engineering and environmental and social management is very well received by clients” says Knut Norén, Managing Director of Multiconsult UK.

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), commenced in the mid 80ties and constitutes four development phases overall. It is one of the most monumental water transfer schemes in the world, where the primary purpose is to transfer water from the Lesotho highlands to the water thirsty Gauteng Region (Johannesburg, Pretoria) in South Africa, and secondly to provide renewable energy from hydropower in Lesotho.

Thirty years of history

With its extensive specialist expertise in hydropower development, Multiconsult has worked in the energy sector in Lesotho and the Southern African region for more than 35 years.

– One of our very first hydropower projects was in fact in Lesotho in the early 80s. We carried out feasibility studies, detailed design and construction supervision of the Mantsonyane and Semonkong small-scale hydropower projects for the Lesotho Highlands Water Projects Unit. We have since then participated in numerous energy-related projects in the region and it is therefore with great excitement that we embark on this new era of hydropower development in Lesotho says Tom Ødegaard, Senior Vice President for Market and Sales Renewable Energy.