Mokhotlong, Lesotho – Construction of the towering Polihali Dam is progressing steadily, the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) announced today. The ambitious project is taking shape in the heart of the country, with the crucial rockfill of the trial embankment now underway.
Designed as a concrete-faced rockfill dam (CFRD), similar to the existing Mohale Dam, Polihali will create a vast 5,053-hectare reservoir upon completion. This massive water body, formed by the confluence of the Senqu and Khubelu rivers, will significantly boost Lesotho’s water resources, adding an impressive 2,325 million cubic meters to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project’s storage capacity. The dam wall itself will stand at an imposing height of 165 meters.
Concurrently, work on the downstream cofferdam is also advancing at a rapid pace. This vital structure will prevent water from the diversion tunnels from interfering with dam wall construction. At 13 meters high, the downstream cofferdam complements its upstream counterpart, which measures 35 meters in height and nine meters in width.
LHDA officials expressed enthusiasm about the project’s progress, anticipating a dramatically transformed landscape in the coming months and years. As construction continues, the public is invited to follow the project’s development and witness the rise of this engineering marvel.
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