Govt allocates E700mln to Mpakeni Dam
. . . Money will cover actual dam construction and resettlements
Asum of E659 809 000 has been allocated for the Mkhondvo-ngwavuma Water Augmentation Project which has already started its construction phase.
According to a report delivered by Honourable Bonginkhosi Dlamini, the Chairperson of the Ministry of Agriculture Portfolio Committee, which was adopted and passed in Parliament on Friday, the allocated budget will cater for the construction of the Mpakeni Dam which includes the embankment and construction of access roads.
The report states that the budget for the Mpakeni is part of the Ministry of Agriculture Capital budget which has been split mainly between the Mpakeni Dam and LUSIP II project.
“The Mpakeni Dam is just starting its construction phase. We appreciate the efforts of all Government agencies and other stakeholders in ensuring that this project progresses as expected. As Ministry responsible we went there on March 1, 2024, to deliver a message to all parties emphasizing the significance of this project on the future of this country and to implore all and sundry to secure completion of the work in time, within budget and specifications. We did get commitment from both management and workers on this desired position,” the report reads in part.
The Sakhalive Joint Venture, which won the US$136 million (about E3.5 billion) tender to construct the historic Dam on the Ingwavuma River, is controlled by Yellow River – a company affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources - and Sinohydro.
The project is funded by the African Development Bank (AFDB).
His Majesty King Mswati III officially launched the historical construction of the Mpakeni Dam during a sod-cutting ceremony held at Mpakeni, under the Sigwe Inkhundla, on August 11, 2023. This marked the start of the first component (Phase 1) of the Mkhondvo-ngwavuma Water Augmentation Project expected to create jobs for 10 000 people and benefit 100 000 emaswati.
The King said, during the sod-cutting ceremony, that the dam project was expected to put about 10,000 hectares of land under irrigation in the Shiselweni region, with the potential to expand and develop more in the future.
“In its totality, the project will irrigate 30,000 hectares of land and benefit a total of 100,000 emaswati,” the King said. His Majesty added that the project design presents infinite investment opportunities and socio-economic benefits such as a proposed multi-billion Emalangeni Ecocity, a hydropower plant and an agroindustrial processing zone.