08 Mar 2015

Preparations for the official opening of Dikgatlhong Dam on March 9 by president of Ghana, Dr John Mahama, are almost complete.

The Bobirwa Sub-district deputy district commissioner, Mr Mompoloki Mochanang, said in an interview that every detail had been attended to and that all they were waiting for was for the guest of honour to arrive for the auspicious occasion.

Mr Mochanang said President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama and the Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, would also grace the event.

He explained that meetings regarding preparations for the event had been taking place weekly to make the occasion a success.

Kgosi Phokontsi Seeletso of Mmadinare and also Member of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, Kgosi Phllip Tamocha of Robelela, government officials from the ministry of Mineral Energy and Water Resources, Bobirwa Sub district, and Selebi Phikwe, worked togethe in preparations for the event.

Dikgatlhong Dam is Botswana’s largest dam with a water holding capacity of 400 million cubic metres. The dam, which cost the government P1.2 billion to construct over about five years, was completed late 2011 and handed over to the client in January 2012.

The dam wall is six kilometres long with a depth of more than 87 metres.The pump station at the dam is currently operational since October last year and the pump, together with a 72 kilometre water pipeline cost P1.12 billion to construct. 

The pipeline heads to Moralane where it connects to the North South Water Carrier system.

Water from the dam augments water distribution through the North South Water Carrier to the central and southern parts of the country among other places. The maximum output of water pumped from the station is 2126 litres per second.  ENDS