KOMATI BASIN WATER AUTHORITY KOBWA (A WORKING SHARED WATERCOURSE INSTITUTION)

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KOMATI BASIN WATER AUTHORITY KOBWA (A WORKING
SHARED WATERCOURSE INSTITUTION)
Mr. F.A Mntambo and Dr. B.L MwakaCommissioner
and Board Chairman, KOBWA
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SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTATION

• Legal context
• South African Legislation
• Treaties
• Establishment of KOBWA
• Need for Bi-national Executive Arrangement
• Mandate
• Progress on implementation
• Infrastructure development
• Relocation
• Operational
• Funding
• Capital
• Operational
• Benefits
• Future challenges and options

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LEGAL FRAMEWORK

• UN Convention on Non-navigational uses of
  International Waters
• Article 3(3) says, Watercourse States may enter
  into one or more agreements, hereinafter referred
  to as watercourse Agreements, which apply and
  adjust the provisions of the present Convention
  to the characteristics and uses of a particular
  international watercourse or part thereof.

SADC PROTOCOL ON SHARED WATERCOURSES

• Article 3(5) State Parties undertake to pursue
  and establish close cooperation with regard to
  the study and execution of all projects likely to
  have an effect on the regime of the shared
  watercourse.
• Article 5(3)(a) Watercourse States undertake to
  establish appropriate institutions such as
  watercourse commissions, water authorities or
  Boards.

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NATIONAL WATER ACT (1998)

• Article 102, The Minister may, in consultation
  with Cabinet, by notice in Gazette, establish a
  body to implement any international agreement
  entered into between South African Government and
  a foreign government relating to (a)
  investigating, managing, monitoring and
  protecting water resources (b) regional
  cooperation on water resources (c) acquiring,
  constructing, altering, operating and maintaining
  a waterwork or (d) the allocation, use and supply
  of water.

TREATIES

• Signed in 1992 between South Africa Swaziland
• Joint Water Commission (JWC) Treaty
• Technical advisor to Parties on matters relating
  to development and utilisation of water resources
  of common interest
• Treaty on the Development and Utilisation of
  water resources of the Komati Basin
• Provide in principle for the joint development of
  the water resources of the Komati River by South
  Africa and Swaziland
• Establishment of KOBWA to implement phase 1

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MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

• To optimise the utilisation of the water
  resources from the system recognizing the rights
  of Mozambique
• To reduce the risk of existing commercial
  farming by increasing the assurance of water
  supply
• Provide water for new development Especially
  Emerging PDI Farmers
• Peak power generation using irrigation water

THE KOMATI BASIN WATER AUTHOURITY (KOBWA)

• Rationale for Bi-national Structure Bi-national
  Project hence for Sovereignty Reasons one
  Government cannot run it in both Countries
• Two Dams and Supporting Infrastructure Located in
  two Different Countries
• Conjunctive use of the Dams thus increasing
  System Yield
• Enables Legal Entity Status in both Countries
• Enables Harmonization of the Different Government
  Systems
• Autonomy and Neutrality
• Acceptance by Transboundary Stakeholders

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KOBWA

• Legal status
• Established in terms of the Treaty on the
  Development and Utilization of the Water
  Resources of the Komati Basin signed in 1992
  between the Republic of South Africa and the
  Kingdom of Swaziland.
• Legal status in both countries through Government
  gazettes.

INSTITUTIONAL AND REPORTING FRAMEWORK
Government of Swaziland
Government of South Africa
JWC 3 Members from each country
KOBWA
BOARD (3 Members from each country) Management
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KOBWA FUNCTIONS

• Design, construction, operation and maintenance
  of Dams and Accessory Infrastructure CORE
  FUNCTION
• Project finance
• Facilitating Development and Implementation of
  operating rules
• Equitable Water Distribution among Parties
• Develop decision support systems
• Implementing Relocation Programs in both
  Countries
• (Maguga dam CMP 1998 and Lake Matsamo CMP 2003
  / Driekoppies Dam RAP 2004)
• Environmental monitoring in Project Area
• Transboundary Stakeholder Consultation
• Develop and Implement Transboundary
  Communication Systems in Project Area

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SYSTEM OPERATION

• Main task
• Evaluate hydrology
• Decision support systems
• Effective water supply rationing
• Water resources accounting system
• Facilitate communication and discussion
• Komati Joint Operations Forum (KJOF)

MONITORING TECHNICAL

• Collect, analyze and store data
• Disseminate information
• Quality and quantity of water resources
• Designs, sets-up, operates and maintain
  hydro-meteorological and water quality monitoring
  systems
• Static and Real-time

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RISK UNCERTAINTY

• Mapping exposed areas
• Monitoring and predicting extreme climatological
  events
• Early warning systems
• Emergency procedures
• Liaison with authorities

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM

• Monitor water quality
• Assess compliance
• Monitor and control Invasive Alien Plants

AREA OF OPERATION

• The current area of Operation Consist of the
  Komati River Basin up-stream of the Confluence of
  the Komati and the Crocodile rivers at
  Komatipoort
• Komati and Lomati Rivers in South Africa and
  Swaziland

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FINANCIALS
Project Capital Cost

• Driekoppies Dam R/E 450 million
• Maguga Dam R/E 660 million
• Infrastructure Def R/E 242 million
• CMP/RAP DD/RSA R/E 141 million
• DD/SD R/E 51 million
• MD R/E 244 million
• Monitoring (CMP/RAP) R/E 5 million
• Water Management R/E 16 million
• TOTAL R/E1 805 million
• Not funded by the project
• Hydro-Power Station R/E 190 million

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PROJECT LOAN FUNDING R/E PROJECT LOAN FUNDING R/E
DBSA (Dec 2020) 488,401,000
Nedcor Bank ( Sept 2019) 233,000,000
Gensec Bank (Dec 2016) 165,000,000
Hambros Merchant Bank (Bulk payment Oct 2027) 380,000,000
Rand Merchant Bank (Aug 2019) 380,000,000
TOTAL LOAN FUNDING 1,646,401,000
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PROJECT BENEFITS TO PARTY STATES

• Increased Utilizable Water Supply by 312-million
  cubic meters per annum at Higher Assurance
• Increased Irrigated Land (hectare)
• 
  SA SD TOTAL (Ha)
• Existing irrigation 20 000 13 500
  33 500
• New irrigation 10 000 6 000
  16 000
• Increased Productivity of Existing Irrigated
  Agriculture
• US 14,5 million (R/E 102 million) p.a.
• Value of production on new land
• US 45,0 million (R/E 315 million) p.a.

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JOB AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

• Employment and Procurement Policy of Regional
  Preferences
• Employment
• Driekoppies 1993/1997 Max 800
• Maguga 1998/2003 Max 1500
• Use of local and emerging contactors during
  construction
• Community involvement Project vs. Community
  savings

IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE UTILISATION PLAN

• KOBWA is assisting in the implementation of
  sustainable utilisation plans where in South
  Africa a first expression of interest was
  advertised for the recreational activities around
  the dam, which covers among others
• Boating and jet skiing
• Hotels and lodges
• Bird watching
• Caravan park
• Braai areas and picnics
• Swimming pools etc.
• Residential
• A trust for the seven affected communities has
  been formed and will benefit these communities
  from the revenue generated by the SUP.
• It is envisaged that this project will create
  around 400 permanent employment

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CHALLENGES

• Water abstraction measurement in Certain Sections
  of the River
• Land claims
• Ecological Water Requirement
• Mozambique Involvement and Beneficiation

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THANK YOU