Schlettwein demands prompt action amid Rundu water plant delays
Contractors under fire
The minister told the contractors to outline concrete measures to ensure the project is brought up to speed.
Agriculture and water minister Calle Schlettwein on Wednesday voiced disappointment with the contractors responsible for NamWater’s Rundu water treatment plant, who are now 76 days behind schedule.
The delay was reportedly caused by the discovery of unsuitable materials on-site. During a site visit in Rundu on Wednesday, Schlettwein expressed frustration over the lack of progress and questioned the contractors' preparedness.
“I’m worried. I hear your promises, but they’re just promises. When I hear about ‘unforeseen circumstances,’ I can’t help but think these should have been foreseen. So, I’m concerned that we might face further delays,” he said.
Schlettwein demanded specific measures to recover lost time. “What I want to know is this: beyond just promises, what concrete measures have been put in place to ensure we catch up? Is it more manpower? More machinery? Longer working hours? What exactly are you doing to make sure we meet the deadline? I need specifics because I can’t rely on just promises.”
The project, a state-of-the-art extension of the Rundu treatment plant and associated works valued at N$665 million, broke ground five months ago.
The head of construction, Eduardo Arevalo, explained that the delays stemmed from unforeseen soil conditions. “We were only supposed to excavate down to 150 mm. However, after reaching that depth, we found that the soil conditions were not stable enough to support the structure. If we had proceeded at that level, it could have led to structural settlements in the future,” Arevalo said.
Measures in place
To resolve the issue, the team had to excavate as deep as 800 mm in some areas to reach stable ground. Arevalo reassured the minister that additional resources would be deployed and more time allocated to the work. He also added that the contractor aims to pour the first concrete by January 2025, keeping the project within its initial timeline.
“Construction work often appears slow during the earthwork phase. However, once concreting begins, progress will accelerate. Earthwork is also a low-pay item, so financial progress may seem minimal. Once concreting begins, we believe we will be able to catch up and remain on track,” Arevalo explained, adding that while a time extension is not yet deemed necessary, contingency plans are in place to ensure the project remains on budget.
Schlettwein pointed out that the project is the culmination of years of meticulous planning. “It progressed through the planning phase, the design phase and the appointment of the contractor, and now we are in the implementation phase. Step by step, I believe we have demonstrated what good governance entails. We provided updates along the way, reporting our progress: we appointed the contractor, outlined our plans and set timelines. This is part of that process,” Schlettwein said.
Water crisis
The minister pointed out that not long ago, Rundu faced a severe water crisis, unable to provide its citizens with sufficient water.
"This project marks the end of that challenge. Admittedly, we started this project later than we should have, but here we are now, with a state-of-the-art water purification plant and a highly secure water source,” he said.
The new plant will not only supply Rundu but also serve surrounding communities along the river through an extended pipeline system.
Schlettwein also highlighted that relying on a single source to supply water to so many people is inherently risky, as it leaves no fallback option in case of failure. “To address this, we are exploring groundwater sources in areas adjacent to the main pipeline within Rundu. By integrating these groundwater resources into the system, we aim to create a more resilient supply network."
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The delay was reportedly caused by the discovery of unsuitable materials on-site. During a site visit in Rundu on Wednesday, Schlettwein expressed frustration over the lack of progress and questioned the contractors' preparedness.
“I’m worried. I hear your promises, but they’re just promises. When I hear about ‘unforeseen circumstances,’ I can’t help but think these should have been foreseen. So, I’m concerned that we might face further delays,” he said.
Schlettwein demanded specific measures to recover lost time. “What I want to know is this: beyond just promises, what concrete measures have been put in place to ensure we catch up? Is it more manpower? More machinery? Longer working hours? What exactly are you doing to make sure we meet the deadline? I need specifics because I can’t rely on just promises.”
The project, a state-of-the-art extension of the Rundu treatment plant and associated works valued at N$665 million, broke ground five months ago.
The head of construction, Eduardo Arevalo, explained that the delays stemmed from unforeseen soil conditions. “We were only supposed to excavate down to 150 mm. However, after reaching that depth, we found that the soil conditions were not stable enough to support the structure. If we had proceeded at that level, it could have led to structural settlements in the future,” Arevalo said.
Measures in place
To resolve the issue, the team had to excavate as deep as 800 mm in some areas to reach stable ground. Arevalo reassured the minister that additional resources would be deployed and more time allocated to the work. He also added that the contractor aims to pour the first concrete by January 2025, keeping the project within its initial timeline.
“Construction work often appears slow during the earthwork phase. However, once concreting begins, progress will accelerate. Earthwork is also a low-pay item, so financial progress may seem minimal. Once concreting begins, we believe we will be able to catch up and remain on track,” Arevalo explained, adding that while a time extension is not yet deemed necessary, contingency plans are in place to ensure the project remains on budget.
Schlettwein pointed out that the project is the culmination of years of meticulous planning. “It progressed through the planning phase, the design phase and the appointment of the contractor, and now we are in the implementation phase. Step by step, I believe we have demonstrated what good governance entails. We provided updates along the way, reporting our progress: we appointed the contractor, outlined our plans and set timelines. This is part of that process,” Schlettwein said.
Water crisis
The minister pointed out that not long ago, Rundu faced a severe water crisis, unable to provide its citizens with sufficient water.
"This project marks the end of that challenge. Admittedly, we started this project later than we should have, but here we are now, with a state-of-the-art water purification plant and a highly secure water source,” he said.
The new plant will not only supply Rundu but also serve surrounding communities along the river through an extended pipeline system.
Schlettwein also highlighted that relying on a single source to supply water to so many people is inherently risky, as it leaves no fallback option in case of failure. “To address this, we are exploring groundwater sources in areas adjacent to the main pipeline within Rundu. By integrating these groundwater resources into the system, we aim to create a more resilient supply network."
[email protected]
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