South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal water company says it has fast-tracked a R26 billion (US$1,38 billion) project to ease water shortages in Ethekwini Municipality and other parts of the province.

The Umkhomazi Dam project, comprising Upper Umkhomazi and Lower Umkhomazi, is scheduled for completion in 2032.

According to the Department of Water and Sanitation, the project will increase water supply to the area and boost economic growth. This is reported by African Times, a partner of TV BRICS.

“The first phase of the project includes the construction of an off-channel storage dam and water intake structures, while the second phase includes a 100 M1/day water treatment plant, a 3.5 kilometre gravity pipeline and quarry expansion. <…> All this underlines our commitment to sustainability and environmental management,” the Department of Water and Sanitation said.

In addition, a R10 billion (US$530 million) project to revamp water supply systems in the Northern Cape and connect local municipalities to water from the Vaal River is almost complete, while construction of the R8 billion (US$424 million) Umzimvubu Dam in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape is underway.

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