The Maguga Dam Project

Komati Basin Water Authority (KOBWA)

Phase 1b Development of the Komati River Basin Project

Background

The Maguga Dam project is the second in a major development initiative to improve the management of the water resources in the Komati River Basin. The first development being the Driekoppies Dam on the Lomati River in South Africa completed in December 1999.

This international programme was established through the 1992 Komati Basin Treaty between the Kingdom of Swaziland and the Republic of South Africa.

The 11 000 km² Komati drainage basin which straddles South Africa and Swaziland, provides an important water resource to users in both countries and neighbouring Mozambique. In an average year the slopes of the basin will shed around 1.4 billion cubic metres of water.

Maguga Dam will provide for expected increases in primary water demand, stabilise river flows and support agriculture development among other water management objectives for the region. With the exception of the ESCOM power stations on the Mpumalanga highveld which are fed by dams in the upper catchment, most of the consumers depend on the unregulated flow of the river system.

The dam site located on the Komati River near the Swaziland town of Piggs Peak.

A provisional long-term plan for the management of the water from the Komati basin includes the phased construction of a possible seven new dams. Maguga and the completed Driekoppies Dame comprise Phase 1 of this programme.

Existing storage dams of significant size in the Komati River Basin are the Nooitedacht, Vygeboom, Barbaton and Shiyangube dams.

The South African Water Resources Plan was formulated in 1984 to cater for the increase in water demand for afforestation, domestic livestock, agriculture, industrial and mining sectors.

South Africa and Swaziland acknowledge that Mozambique is entitled to a reasonable and equitable share of the water from the Komati River Basin. the exact share has not yet been determined but studies of the greater Komati Basin are being carried out to quantify water resources and the demands on those resources.

Overall management of this project is by the Komati Basin Water Authority (KOBWA), a bi-national agency established under the terms of the Komati Basin Treaty between South Africa and Swaziland.

The main purpose of KOBWA is the implementation of Phase 1 of the development of the Komati River Basin - the construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the two dams.

The first stage of the Phase 1 development was the construction of the Driekoppies Dam on the Lomati River, a tributary of the Komati, in South Africa. The second stage of Phase 1 development is the construction of the Maguga Dam on the Komati River in Swaziland. Construction is underway by the Komati Dam Joint Venture (KDJV), a consortium of South African and Swazi contractors. The design and construction supervision is being undertaken by the Maguga Dam Joint Venture (MDJV), a joint venture between Consult4 (South Africa) and Swazi Groups consultants.

Further Details

Further details of the project can be obtained from:

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The information provided above does NOT in any way represent the OFFICIAL opinion or views of KOBWA or the Swaziland Government about the Maguga Dam Project

This page was last updated on 05 November 2001

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Background

The Project

Social and Environmental Responsibility

The Components of the Development

The Komati River Bridge

The Maguga Dam

Access Roads

Resettlement and Compensation

The Piggs Peak Bulk Water Supply

The Maguga Dam Clinic

The Glen Housing Village

The Multi-purpose Hall

The Piggs Peak Club