BIG DEVELOPMENTS IN LESOTHO(DAMS & MINES

In Lesotho, there have been significant developments in the realms of Dams such as Katse, Mohale, Metolong and 'Murla dam and mines like Kao,Liqhobong and Letśeng diamond mine that are shaping the country's economic and environmental landscape.

1. DAMS

2. INTRODUCTION Dams are massive barriers built across rivers and streams to combine and utilize the flow of water for human purpose. These purposes may be; Irrigation Hydropower Water-Supply Flood Control Navigation Fishing Recreation This confinement of water creates lakes or reserviors .

3. KATSE DAM The Katse dam, a concrete arch dam on the Malibamats’o river in Lesotho.The dam is located on the border of Leribe and Thaba-Tseka district. The dam is 710 metres long and 185 metres high. It is one of the largest dam projects in the world and stands as a remarkable feat of engineering. The construction of the dam began in 1991 on the Malibamats’o river tributary of the orange( Senqu ) river and it was completed in 1996. On January 22 1998, water began to be delivered to South Africa. The dam was built by a Consortium of Bouygues, concor, Group 5,Hochtief,kier group and sterling international.

4. Continuation The Katse dam is a Significant part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which is a multiphase project designed to provide water to the Republic of South Africa. It is also designed to generate hydroelectric power of Lesotho . Katse dam is an elevation of 1993m above the sea level making it the highest elevation dam in Africa. The dam wall is a double-curved arch. It curves from side as well as from top-to-bottom. The wall is 185m high, 60m wide at the base and 9m wide at top. Length of the wall is 710m.

5. `MUELA DAM The `Muela dam is situated on the Nqoe river in Butha-Buthe Lesotho. The dam is a 55m high double curvature arch structure forming the tail pond of the `Muela Hydropower station, which will generate 72 MW of power for Lesotho. The construction of the underground works started in March 1995, the first draft tubes were installed in November 1996 and commissioning of the plant is scheduled for 1998. The site chosen, in a narrow gorge on the Nqoe river north of `Muela village. Lesotho Dams

6. Continuation The purpose of the dam is to serve as a tail pond for the `Muela underground hydroelectric power station that generates electricity to supply the needs of Lesotho. The plant capacity(at phase1) is 72 MW(three Francis vertical shaft turbines at 24MW each.

7. METOLONG DAM The Metolong dam is situated in the Maseru district, adjacent to the villages of Ha Seeiso, Metolong and HA Makotoko, approximately 30km East of Maseru. It is a 83m high roller compacted concrete(RCC) dam with a reservoir capacity of 64 million cubic meter and a raw water pumping station with a 1.2 cubic meter per second. Lesotho Dams

8. Continuation The construction of the dam began in August 2013 and was completed in February 2015. Design and construction of the dam is founded by a consortium of Arab Donors, namely BADEA, Saudi, OFID and Kuwait. The dam was designed for domestic and industrial water supply for Maseru and nearby lowland areas.

9. Lesotho Dams MOHALE DAM Mohale dam is the embankment ,concrete faced rock-fill dam located in Maseru district. It is the second dam, under the phase 1B of the series of dams of the proposed Lesotho Highlands water Project. The dam is 145m high and 700m long.

10. Mohale dam was built as part of phase 1B of the LHWP to augment south Africa’s water supply and generate electricity in Lesotho. The construction of Mohale dam was supervised by Mohale Consultants Group. The dam was completed in 2003 and formally commissioned in 2004. Continuation

11. MINES

12. INTRODUCTION The diamond mining industry has been in existence in Lesotho since the last 1950s. Prospecting rights were granted over Kao and Liqhobong pipes in 1959 but immediately after Lesotho’s independence from colonial rule, these mines ceased operations on account of dissatisfactory diamond production results. In 1961, artisanal diamond mining by licensed Basotho diggers started at Lets’eng –la- Terai , Kolo , Nqechane and Hololo . However, in 1968 the process of prospecting on Lets’eng diamond pipe commence, Again, the results proved futile in the 1970s and the mine ceased operations. Nonetheless, the reopening of the diamond mines in Lesotho about a decade ago has brought benefits worthy of mention. The diamond mining industry’s contribution to Lesotho’s economic growth has increased quite a bit higher lately.

13. LETS’ENG-LA-TERAI DIAMOND MINE Lets’eng diamond mines is situated high in the maloti Mountains in the kingdom of Lesotho owned by Gem Diamonds Limited, which owns 70% and the government of the kingdom of Lesotho, which owns the remaining 30%. Lesotho MINES

14. Continuation The Lets’eng diamond mine is pleased to announce the recovery of high quality Type II white diamond from the Lets’eng mine in Lesotho. This mine is found in Mokhotlong district, is 3100m above sea level and 3100m high and it is the biggest mine in Lesotho.

15. Lesotho Mines LIQHOBONG MINE The Liqhobong Diamond is located within the Liqhobong valley in the Maluti mountains, approximately 120km east-northeast. The mine has estimated reserves of 19 million carats of diamonds and an annual production capacity of 1 million carats. Liqhobong mine is operated by Liqhobong Mining Development Company(proprietary) Limited(LMDC), which is 75% owned by Firestone Diamonds and 25% owned by the Government of Lesotho and it is found in Butha-Buthe district.

16. KAO MINE Kao mine founded by Tomiro Nagase is found in Butha-Buthe district. It is 200km away from Maseru, it is 1030m high. This mine is owned by Gem Diamonds, Ltd and the government of Lesotho, at an elevation of 3100m(10 200 ft). The Kao mine is renowned for the production of rare, precious pink diamonds. Lesotho M ines

17. In conclusion, the dams in Lesotho are a vital component of the country’s infrastructure, significantly contributing to its economic development and regional cooperation, particularly through the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. This project not only improves local water exports access but also generates substantial revenues from water exports to South Africa. The Lesotho mines are a major source of income for the country, and they have played a significant role in its development. However, the mines have also had a negative impact on the environment and the health of the local population. The government of Lesotho has taken some steps to address these issues, but more needs to be done to ensure that the mines are operated in a sustainable manner. Thank you. By:FUTHUMETSA NELISWA CONCLUSION

18. LIST OF REFERENCES www.link.springer.com(2013),Katse,available at:https :// link.springer.com/ referenceworkentry /10.1007/978-1-4020-4410-6_220 (accessed 05 May 2024) www.hydropower-dams.com(2022),Muela,available at:https ://www.hydropower-dams.com/news/muela-hydro-plant-in-urgent-need-of-unit-1-repair /(accessed 24 April 2024) www.water.org.ls.com(2015),available at:https://www.water.org.ls/metolong-authority/(accessed 28 May 2024 www.wis.orasecom.org.com(2019),Mohale,available at:https://wis.orasecom.org/content/study/UNDP-GEF/ InfrastructureCatalogue /Documents/Reservoirs/Mohale%20Dam.pdf (accessed 10 May 2024) wwhttps:// www.mining-technology.com/projects/liqhobong-diamond-mine/ www.letseng diamonds.co.ls(2022),letsengdiamond mine,available at:https://www.letsengdiamonds.co.ls/corporate-profile/(accessed 07 May 2024) www.kao mine.com(2023),available at://https :// stormmountaindiamonds.com(accessed 23 April 2024)