Project title
Ressano Garcia Weir (Project XB‐3)
Project sponsors
The project proponent is the National Directorate of Water (DNA), Mozambique with
the ARA South being the implementing agent.
Participating countries
Mozambique and South Africa
Objectives
To ensure monitoring of cross‐border flow in the Incomati River (provision of
IncoMaputo Agreement between Governments of Mozambique, South Africa and
Swaziland). Storage from weir to provide water supply to Ressano Garcia Village.
Project description
Under the Inco‐Maputo Agreement (IMA) between Mozambique, South Africa and
Swaziland, two upstream countries agreed to release a minimum cross‐border flow
amounting to 2.6 m3/s on average over a three‐day period. The gauging methods used
on both sides of the border provide data that is not consistent with each other,
resulting in disputes and the non‐compliance with the IMA Agreement. This issue has
been discussed several times at the TPTC and JWC meetings of these three riparian
states and there is consensus that a measuring weir would assist in monitoring and
enforcing the agreed flows.
On the other hand, the town of Ressano Garcia with a population of 20 000
inhabitants is currently facing serious water supply problems and urgently requires an
assured water supply source for the provision of water supply and sanitation services.
A border post would also be established, which would greatly help the Ressano Garcia
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residents. The Ressano Garcia weir reservoir capacity would be about 200 000 m .
Expected results
A water supply from the new weir to supply 20 000 inhabitants of Ressano Garcia
town will be constructed. The weir will serve as a gauging station to monitor flows and
improve the water resources management of IncoMaputo.
Ongoing related activities in the Project design and environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) funded by the
region
World Bank.
Description of national plan to the Project designs and an environmental impact assessment study were carried out in
project
2002. In 2011 DNA undertook the further refinement studies and updating of the
costing.
Status
The project can be considered to be in Phase 3 of the ICA Project Development
Phases.
Next steps
Feasibility studies and a comprehensive ESIA funded by the World Bank are underway
to be completed in 2012. Detailed designs and tendering for construction will be done
in 2013. Implementation and construction of the associated project components is
expected to start in 2014 and will be completed in 2015.
Business model
This project will serve both as an infrastructure investment in respect to the water
supply to Ressano Garcia town, as well as a water resources management investment.
It can therefore be funded from partly grant and loan financing.
Main parties in place
DNA Mozambique and ARA Sul Mozambique
Main parties to be procured
Possible project financier is the World Bank.
Project challenges
The major project challenge is the timely sourcing of project finances.
Project documentation available
1 Ressano Garcia Weir on the Incomati River, Final Report. National Directorate of
Water, by Tecnica in Association with Coba. 2002.
2 Ressano Garcia Weir on the Incomati River – Assessment of Ecological Impacts,
Final Report. National Directorate of Water, by Tecnica in Association with Coba.
2002.
3 National
Investment
Brief
Mozambique.
Sirte.
2008.
http://www.sirtewaterandenergy.org/docs/reports/Mozambique‐Draft2.pdf.
Last accessed 13 August 2011.
Intervention requiring financing
Project to be presented for grant financing during the planned 1st SADC Infrastructure
Investment Summit and Conference to be held in the last quarter of 2012.
Revenues for financing repayment This is an infrastructure investment project, which may not raise sufficient revenue to
repay any loans procured for implementing the project as the project can be
considered as a social project.
Estimated total cost
The estimated total project costs are US$6 million.
Execution period
After project funding is secured in 2012, the project will be undertaken from 2013 to
2015. Hydrological data will be collected thereafter.
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