La Gogue Dam project to cost almost R100 million more |19 December 2020

The delegation during the site visit (Photo: Louis Toussaint)

At 93% complete, work to raise the level of the La Gogue Dam will cost over R100 million more following unexpected geological conditions encountered.

These would require additional works to address seepages and grouting problems for safety and stability.

It was the chief executive of the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) who made the statements during a presentation at the National Assembly on the situation of the dam project to members of the Committee on Government Assurances (Coga).

The aim of the meeting, which was followed by a site visit, was for the Coga members, headed by Sylvanne Lemiel, to oversee the implementation of the La Gogue Dam project in relation to assurances that were made in the National Assembly by the executives since 2018 and thereafter.

Elaborating on the R100 million needed to finish the project, Mr Morin, heading a seven-member delegation, explained that the additional cost is for work to address seepages that have been observed between the old and new spillway on the right abutment of the dam which now needs additional piling including the installation of drains, gabions and rip raps to stabilise the slope of the south saddle where a house has also encroached on it. He said the slope if left unattended poses a high risk of mass movement under conditions of abnormal high rainfall and the risk has to be alleviated.

With regard to the house which has been in that location for over seven years and is now encroaching the boundary of the dam, precisely close to the saddle, Mr Morin said that PUC is for the time being looking at all existing possibilities to stabilise the saddle without interfering with the house.

The contract for the project was awarded in August 2017 to Synohydro Corporation Limited, a Chinese company based in Mauritius, for a total amount of R184,600,596.50. The company was awarded another R20 million following five months’ delay in work caused by the Pick-Up Plant and Truck Hire Association (PPTHAA), that wanted to be included in the project.

Mr Morin stated that the additional R100 million needed was budgeted as part of a loan from the African Development Bank (ADB) for the construction of a treatment plant below the dam and that it had been approved by government for the same money to be used for the additional work which will be for the safety and stability of the dam.

He said that the country can do away with a treatment plant for the time being until further sources are found for its sponsorship.

The La Gogue Dam project, which started in 2018 and expected to finish by the end of 2019, is now targeted to finish by June 2021. The main causes in the delay were an exceptional amount of rainfall experienced during the period 2018-2019, setback caused by the representations of PPTHAA including the recent unexpected geological conditions encountered and difficulties in grouting the south saddle which now needs to be stabilised.

On behalf of the committee, Hon. Lemiel said that though work is not on schedule they were very satisfied with work being done on the dam.

“We have chosen to follow up on the project based on the its size and on its timeframe since it was announced in the National Assembly by various assurances in 2018 and 2019,” Hon. Leniel said, noting that they recognise the difficulties and challenges the project is facing.

“It’s been a pleasure for us to welcome the committee as it has given us the opportunity to show them the progress we’ve made and the sort of challenges we are facing. It has also given us the opportunity to justify why the cost has gone up by almost one hundred million rupees,” Mr Morin said.

The main purpose of the project is to improve our raw water storage system by increasing the storage capacity of the dam by 60% through raising its embankment by six metres. The contract also includes the construction of temporary and permanent roads.

The dam gets its water from the Rochon Dam, from Le Niol reservoir and from a small nearby river.

Apart from Hon. Desheila Bastienne who was not present, other members of the committee present at the meeting and on the visit were Hon. Norbert Loizeau (vice-chair), Hon. Philippe Monthy, Hon. Wallace Cosgrow, Hon. Clive Roucou and Hon. Rocky Uranie.

Patrick Joubert