Costs increase as La Gogue dam project encounters delays and setbacks |26 June 2020

Delays and setbacks have hampered work to raise the level of the La Gogue dam (Photo: Patrick Joubert)

The project to raise the La Gogue dam by six metres and boost its storage capacity has encountered delays and setbacks which have caused an increase in the cost of construction works.

The project, which was to be completed by the end of May or June this year, is now expected to be fully completed by mid-2021.

It was the chief executive of the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC), Philippe Morin, who made the statement yesterday morning after accompanying the Minister for Environment, Energy and Climate Change (MEECC), Wallace Cosgrow, on a tour to visit the progress made on the dam since their last visit in December 2019.

Also present were the principal secretary for energy and climate change Wills Agricole, PUC chairman Eddie Belle, high officials from MEECC and PUC, including other board members, representatives from the Chinese contractor Sinohydro based in Mauritius and a PUC consultant from the Studio Pietrageli based in Italy.

Mr Morin stated that work to raise the level of the dam by six metres so as to increase its water storage capacity started in 2017 and was expected to be completed by the end of May or June, but with delays and setbacks, it is now expected to be fully completed by mid-2021 in addition to a significant 40% to 50% increase in costs. The original cost for the work amounted to R185 million and now an additional R80 million to R100 million is needed to cover for the extras.

He added that the delays and setbacks were as a result of the objection by members of the Pick-up, Plant and Truck Hire Association (PPTHA) who wanted to be part of the project at the beginning, the plant hire operators who failed to provide the necessary heavy equipment which the contractor had to later finally import from overseas, persistent rainfall over recent months and COVID-19 lockdown which has even up to now prevented expert from overseas to come in and help with the installation of the dam’s PVC membrane (systems for waterproofing). He noted that the extra cost is beyond the control of PUC.

Mr Morin added that the recent discovery of a seepage problem on the right side of the dam which requires six months cement piling work at depth of 40 metres, has also caused the cost of the project to increase significantly.

He noted that though the major earthwork is expected to be completed by November or December 2020, the dam will only be filled up to its capacity after the piling work on the seepage is completed in mid 2021.

“These situations have caused considerable delays and now given that we have to address the seepage issue on the right hand side of the embankment of the dam, we expect another six months’ delays and we expect to see a considerable increase in the cost of constructing this dam,” Mr Morin said, noting that the extra cost is beyond the control of PUC.

Speaking on other water projects, Mr Morin said that studies are being carried out at La Plaine Hollandaise on Praslin and at Grand Anse Mahé for possible construction of future dams. The studies will be completed by next year.

For his part, Minister Cosgrow said that he was very happy with work being done up to now. He described the project as one of great importance being undertaken by government.

“I am very satisfied with the progress and level of work done which is at a very professional level. It is a very substantial project for the coming decades,” Minister Cosgrow said, noting that local components are still being outsourced for the project by Sinohydro.

On completion, the dam will be 45 metres deep with an additional 600,000 cubic metres of water in storage capacity, 60% over the current figure which stands at one million cubic metres. The dam will be fenced off to prevent access by unauthorised people while a road will also be built all around. The original dam was built in 1976.

Patrick Joubert