Contract awarded for berg river dam

TCTA, the project implementing and funding body, awarded the contract for the construction of the R550 million Berg River dam on the Berg River near Franschhoek in the Western Cape to Berg River Project Joint Venture, a consortium of leading South African construction companies. The consortium comprises Grinaker-LTA, Group 5, WBHO and an empowerment group known as Western Cape Empowerment Contractors. WCEC will afford smaller contractors from the area an opportunity to gain experience and share in the benefits of the project. It is expected that the construction will start in June 2004, and the first water is due to be delivered to Cape Town and the downstream water users by the end of the year 2007.