Sakhalive JV awarded Mpakeni Dam
RE-LAUNCH:
The Mpakeni Dam project is a project by ESWADE and is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the construction of the dam is expected to take four years.
MBABANE – The most lucrative project in the country, with a total value of E2.6 billion, has been awarded to the Sakhalive Joint Venture (JV).
Sakhalive JV is a joint venture between two Chinese companies, Yellowriver and Sinohydro Bureau 3.
The tender was issued by the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise (ESWADE) for the Mkondvo-Ngwavuma Water Augmentation Project (MNWAP), and the contract was awarded to the Chinese company after no local bids were received.
Only two companies showed interest in the tender, and these were Sakhalive JV and WHBHO/Steftocks Mpakeni JV from South Africa.
WHBHO/Steftocks Mpakeni JV is a joint venture between WBHO
Construction Company and Stefanutti and Stocks from South Africa. Sinohydro Bureau 3 Co. Ltd. is a Chinese company that provides engineering and construction services. The company contracts for hydro-power engineering, housing construction, road works and other projects.
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YellowRiver Engineering Consulting Co. is also a Chinese company that is engaged in the businesses of river basin and regional planning, project survey, design, scientific research, consulting, supervision, project management, general contracting, investment, and operation of projects.
The Mpakeni Dam project is a project by ESWADE and is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the construction of the dam is expected to take four years. The contract signing ceremony was held yesterday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane, and ESWADE, Sakhalive JV and the government were represented.
ESWADE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sam Sithole said they were tasked by the Government of Eswatini to implement MNWAP. He said the government was granted permission to undertake advance procurement for the Mpakeni Dam and associated works, including the Mpakeni Dam Main Access Road, in accordance with the AfDB guidelines.
“ESWADE launched the prequalification process in November 2021 and completed the evaluation of bids. A total of seven prequalification applications were received, and three were qualified,” he said.
Sithole said ESWADE eventually cancelled the prequalification process in accordance with the provisions, as set out in the prequalification document. This provided a second opportunity for prospective bidders, both domestic and international, to tender for the works.
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“ESWADE then re-launched the tendering process for the procurement of works contractors for the Mpakeni Dam, through an open international competitive bidding process without prequalification in accordance with the African Development Bank procedures,” he added.
Sithole said the procurement was by a work contractor without prequalification.
The CEO further mentioned that ESWADE relaunched the tender on October 7, 2022, and it closed on
February 28, 2023, following an extension of one month. He said a total of two international bids were received by the deadline.
“In line with the procurement guidelines of the financier, AfDB, the procuring entity (ESWADE) has concluded the adjudication of bids and further obtained a ‘no objection’ from the African Development Bank to award the contract to the successful bidder,” mentioned Sithole.
YellowRiver Director Yang Sheya, also added that their history and experience in building dams and related structures date back 60 years.
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He said they had vast experience in building clay core rockfill dams, RCC dams, concrete double curvature works, arch dams, and concrete gravity dams, to name but a few.
“Based on our rich experience and good cooperation with the employer, we are confident in the timely completion of the project with the best quality. We will also ensure adequate technology and knowledge transfer to the local employee, build the capacity of local construction companies by sub-contracting, and ensure local suppliers benefit from the construction of the works,” he added.
Yang also mentioned that it was very important to highlight that such projects did not only deliver the infrastructure to be built, but they also transformed people’s lives, through employing human resources locally, which translates to economic benefits for the communities and the nation at large.