LHDA: Lesotho Highlands Water Project Pollution Investigation Launched

• New concerns have emerged regarding wastewater discharge from the Kopano Ke Matla Joint Venture's Polihali transfer tunnel construction site into the Sekoai River.
• Residents reported foamy water in the Sekoai River, prompting the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) to initiate an inspection and testing of the suspected pollution.
• The contractor was previously suspended in May 2025 for dumping acidic and oily wastewater into rivers and the Katse reservoir, affecting 1,400 workers.
• Prior non-compliance issues included malfunctioning equipment, high pH levels, oil contamination, and untreated discharges into the Ntšupe River and Katse reservoir.
• Work resumed after the contractor upgraded its wastewater treatment system, revised procedures, and appointed a qualified process specialist, with independent tests confirming compliance at that time.

For legal professionals advising construction companies involved in large-scale projects in Lesotho, these events serve as a stark reminder of the potential for project suspensions and intense regulatory oversight if environmental management plans are not meticulously followed.

Recent observations have raised fresh concerns regarding potential environmental contamination stemming from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project pollution investigation. Wastewater was reportedly seen discharging from an access adit belonging to the Kopano Ke Matla Joint Venture, the contractor responsible for constructing the Polihali transfer tunnel. This discharge, observed in August, appeared to flow continuously from an outlet pipe onto the land before reaching the Sekoai River, located approximately ten meters from the site's perimeter fence.

Further reports surfaced on September 7 from residents of Tloha-re-Buoe, who described foamy water in the Sekoai River within the same tunnel access vicinity. Villager Thomello Ramotloenya recounted finding foamy white bubbles in the river that morning while grazing his animals. These incidents follow a previous suspension of the contractor for environmental breaches, prompting the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) to announce it will refer the collected evidence of suspected pollution to the project engineer for thorough inspection and testing.

In response to these latest observations, LHDA spokesperson Mpho Brown, speaking on behalf of Kopano Ke Matla, asserted that the observed discharge is an approved and monitored component of the plant's wastewater treatment system, intended for treated effluent release. Brown also stated that the LHDA has not received any complaints or reports of foaming, discolouration, or pollution in the Sekoai River directly linked to the construction activities. However, Brown acknowledged that an inspection and tests had not yet been conducted, adding that if non-compliant effluent quality is identified, the discharge would be immediately halted, and Kopano Ke Matla would be required to implement corrective measures.

This is not the first instance of environmental scrutiny for the Kopano Ke Matla Joint Venture. In May 2025, the contractor faced a suspension for discharging acidic and oily wastewater into local rivers and the Katse reservoir, a critical source of drinking water for South Africa. This significant environmental breach led to the temporary layoff of 1,400 workers involved in the M42-billion project, which is a joint venture between Lesotho and South Africa.

Supervising engineers had previously identified Kopano Ke Matla's wastewater treatment systems as non-compliant, despite issuing multiple warnings. A suspension letter dated May 5, 2025, highlighted that only three of 26 identified non-compliant issues had been addressed by the contractor. These issues included a range of critical failures such as missing effluent test results, a malfunctioning sulphuric acid dosing pump, elevated pH levels in treated water, and clear evidence of oil contamination. Concerns also extended to untreated construction wastewater being discharged into the Ntšupe River, untreated tunnel effluent entering the Katse reservoir, and general failures in maintaining sewage and wastewater treatment plants.

LHDA spokesperson Mpho Brown clarified that the suspension was a "precautionary and corrective step" taken to address these shortcomings before they could cause further harm. Work resumed on May 25, 2025, after the project engineer confirmed upgrades had been made. Independent laboratory results subsequently verified that the treated effluent from Kopano Ke Matla met the required standards. The contractor was mandated to upgrade its treatment system, incorporating additional settling capacity and pH correction, revise its operational procedures, and appoint a qualified process specialist to manage the plant, ensuring robust LHDA environmental compliance Lesotho.

The ongoing Lesotho Highlands Water Project pollution investigation underscores the stringent environmental compliance requirements for major infrastructure developments in the region. The repeated scrutiny of the Kopano Ke Matla Joint Venture pollution highlights the critical need for contractors to adhere rigorously to wastewater treatment protocols, especially given the sensitivity of water resources like the Katse reservoir wastewater discharge, which supplies drinking water to a neighboring country.

For legal professionals advising construction companies involved in large-scale projects in Lesotho, these events serve as a stark reminder of the potential for project suspensions and intense regulatory oversight if environmental management plans are not meticulously followed. Compliance officers must ensure that robust systems are not only in place but are also consistently monitored and maintained by contractors to prevent issues such as the Polihali transfer tunnel environmental concerns and the Sekoai River pollution Lesotho. The LHDA's proactive stance in investigating and enforcing standards demonstrates a commitment to environmental protection that demands unwavering adherence from all project participants.

Lawyers advising construction companies on large infrastructure projects in Lesotho should note the strict environmental compliance requirements and the potential for project suspensions and regulatory scrutiny if wastewater treatment protocols are not rigorously followed, as demonstrated by the LHDA's actions. Compliance officers must ensure robust environmental management plans are in place and adhered to by contractors to avoid similar issues.

Source: Original reporting via the source article