The Orange-Senqu River Commission (Orasecom) wants to optimise the development and management of the water resources of the Orange-Senqu River basin that flows through Southern Africa. The institution recently launched a call for tenders for this project. Orasecom is looking for four consultants to carry out feasibility studies that will lead to the development of groundwater resources in the Orange-Senqu River, whose resources are shared between Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and South Africa.
“The project is being implemented through four components and focuses on institutional and policy reform and technical capacity building to improve joint planning and management of transboundary basins; reducing pressure on water resource quality; addressing changes in the hydrological regime by applying source to sea and combating land degradation through community-based ecosystem management,” explains Orasecom.
The institution responsible for managing the resources of the Orange-Senqu river basin is therefore looking for consultants to determine the viability of its project. The first consultant selected will be responsible for preparing guidelines and regulations for the reduction of pollution from various sources (industrial, mining, agrochemicals, etc.) in the Mohokare/Caledon river basin. It is shared between Lesotho and South Africa. Technical and financial offers from firms interested in the project are expected by January 22nd, 2021 at the latest.
The second offer concerns the evaluation of management options and the identification of sustainable options for the harvesting of Prosopis, an invasive plant species in the Orange River Basin in Namibia. The selected consultant will also be asked to make practical proposals on how to build institutional capacity at national and local level for the management of Prosopis and provide proposals on its harvesting, taking into account environmental impacts. The deadline for submission of applications is also January 22nd, 2021. The third selected consultant will be required to assess the economic opportunities and the development of a marketing strategy and business plan based on Prosopis harvesting in the Orange River Basin in Namibia.
Groundwater resource potential
The fourth consulting firm will be recruited by Orasecom for a period of two years. Its mission will be to assess the potential and extent of groundwater resources in the Molopo sub-basin in Botswana. The selected consulting firm will also assess the groundwater potential of the catchment area, which stretches from Tsabong to Bokspits in South Kgalagadi, in order to take advantage of the gaps identified in a feasibility study of saline and brackish groundwater use options and to fill them. The company will also quantify resources, conduct water quality testing, develop aquifer potential maps, assess the extent of wellfield pollution and implement recommendations from wellfield protection zone reports.
Finally, the consultancy firm will be required to produce a report and develop a strategy for the use of saline groundwater resources in the areas concerned and draw up cost estimates. Interested firms have until January 29th, 2021 to submit their proposals.
Inès Magoum