The Lesotho Electricity Company has issued a request for expressions of interest from consulting firms able to conduct a prefeasibility study into the development of a pumped-storage scheme.  

The scheme, known as Monontša, could potentially yield 1 000 MW of peaking capacity for consumption in Lesotho and South Africa.

Several Lesotho sites, some of which are associated with the giant Lesotho Highlands Water Project, were reportedly assessed earlier in the decade by South African utility Eskom for their hydropower potential, with Monontša having been identified a possible site.

The Lesotho government has now secured a loan and a grant from the African Development Bank's (AfDB's) African Development Fund to study power supply projects, under the ‘Lesotho Electricity Supply Project', part of which would be used to cover the cost of the pumped-storage prefeasibility study, with the LEC acting as the implementing agency.

The deadline for bids is 12:00 on July 9, 2010, and a short list of six firms would be compiled in accordance with the procedures set out in the AfDB's rules and procedures for the use of consultants.

Meanwhile, the LEC is seeking bids for the construction of new distribution infrastructure, including the development of 33 kV lines and 11 kV lines, as well as substations.

Source: Engineering News