Name of the Project
Mokolo-Crocodile Water Augmentation Project (MCWAP) – Phase 2A.

Location
Limpopo, South Africa. Phase 1 of the MCWAP comprises a scheme to convey water 43 km from the Mokolo dam to the Lephalale area. It supplies the Lephalale local municipality and surrounding areas, Eskom’s Matimba and Medupi power stations and Exxaro’s Grootegeluk mine.

Project Owner/s
The Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) is funding and implementing the project on behalf of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). TCTA is a 100% State-owned entity mandated to finance and implement bulk raw-water infrastructure projects of national importance.

Project Description
MCWAP-1 currently delivers about 40-million cubic metres a year to Eskom, including three of the six Medupi power station flue-gas desulphurisation units, as well as Exxaro, farmers in the Lephalale area and the Lephalale local municipality.

MCWAP-2A is an expansion of the scheme and is intended to augment water supply in the project area by 75-million cubic metres a year from the Crocodile river, about 160 km away. 

Once built, the expansion will support strategic power generation in the Waterberg area, the implementation of flue-gas desulphurisation technology at power plants and economic development in the Lephalale area.

The expansion comprises the construction of the Vlieëpoort abstraction works on the Crocodile river (West), low- and high-lift pumping stations, desilting works, balancing storage facilities, a 160 km bulk raw-water pipeline to the Steenbokpan and Lephalale areas, and a river abstraction, flow monitoring and management system on part of the Crocodile river.

Potential Job Creation
The project is expected to employ at least 1 000 people during implementation, with 50% of the engineers on the project expected to be from a previously disadvantaged background.

It is also expected to offer learnerships and bursaries, mainly to previously disadvantaged people from the local community.

Capital Expenditure
The TCTA board approved a revised project charter in September 2025, which includes the updated R19.7-billion long-term cost plan and revised timeline targeting water delivery by January 2030.

Planned Start/End Date
MCWAP-1 was commissioned in June 2015.

For MCWAP-2A, the construction contract started in July 2025. Construction was expected to start in March 2026, with water delivery targeted for January 2030.

Latest Developments
The TCTA is working on the MCWAP-2A expansion. 

In May 2025, the construction contractor was awarded and the contract started in July 2025. The site construction permit was obtained in October 2025, and site establishment, including temporary facilities for the contractor and consultant, started in the same month.

Preconstruction activities have been implemented. 

The yearly tariff-setting process with the DWS continues to function as expected. The project’s liquidity position, considering cash and undrawn revolving credit, remains adequate, and payment timeliness from the DWS to each TCTA project remained good in 2025/26.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
GBN Joint Venture, comprising Gibb, Bigen Africa Services and Nyeleti Consulting (professional service provider responsible for the design and construction supervision of the project).

The construction contractor was awarded in May 2025.

Contact Details for Project Information
TCTA, tel +27 12 683 1200 or email info@tcta.co.za.