President Jacob Zuma will on Friday 21 October visit the site where there will be sod turning for the construction of the R18billion Vaal Gamagara Water Project. Phase One (1) of the project which is an 82 kilometer pipeline will stretch from Roscoe in Kathu to Black Rock.
On completion beneficiaries of Phase One will include fourteen livestock farms, twelve mines, solar parks and the communities of Kathu, Olifantshoek and Hotazel, benefiting a populace of 23 499 (according to Census 2011).
The maximum capacity of the current scheme is 2500m3/h and the new scheme will be able to supply a peak demand of 5200m3/h, including future water supply to Botswana. The system will be upgraded by replacing the existing pipeline with a larger diameter pipeline.
The original scheme was built 56 years ago and is beyond its lifespan. It no longer has the capacity to supply sufficient water to satisfy the increased demand brought about by mines, municipalities and agricultural production.
The driving force for the increased demand is the expanding iron ore and manganese mining operations; some of the mines that will benefit include Khumani, Sishen Iron Ore (Kumba), Mamatwan, Tshipi é Ntle Manganese, United Manganese of the Kalahari (UMK), Kudumane Mineral Resources, Kgalagadi Manganese, Hotazel, Wessels, Gloria, Black Rock and other prospecting mines.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
