Ethemba Dam, Eswatini

Construction of the Ethemba dam on the Mkhondvo river in Eswatini. The preferred site is situated in the Shiselweni region. The following infrastructure is proposed as part of the Ethemba Dam Project: Ethemba Dam with a capacity of 368 million m³ and a 103.5 m high roller compacted concrete (RCC) gravity wall. The area of inundation associated with the dam is 1045 hectares. An intake works on the left side of the spillway, built into the main RCC body of the dam wall and outlet house and river release control works will also be developed as part of the dam infrastructure; a 3 MW hydropower plant at the end of the gorge which will consist of a high pressure penstock, powerhouse and transformer yard. The plant will also have a connection to the existing 66 kV Maguduza-Sithombela transmission line. High pressure penstock directing water from the dam to the hydropower plant. A water conveyance system consisting of pump stations, balancing dams and delivery pipeline. Balancing dam, potable water pipeline, water treatment works, pump stations and reservoirs for the provision of potable water to Hlathikulu. Access roads to the site will be upgraded including the upgrading of two bridges. Access will be provided to the left abutment by means of a new access road running up the gorge. Access roads will also be constructed along the proposed pipeline routes and the penstock in the gorge. The exact co-ordinates are currently not available however the approximate area of location is lat: -26.9827577; long: 31.3541631.