Securing Water. Strengthening Regional Resilience.
The Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer Project is a transformative regional infrastructure initiative designed to tackle growing water scarcity across Southern Africa.
Driven by rising demand and worsening climate-related droughts, the project will unlock long-term water security for Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa through a large-scale cross-border water transfer system.
Adopted as a priority project under the Orange-Senqu River Commission Integrated Water Resources Management Plan, the initiative reflects a bold commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable resource management.
A Regional Water Lifeline
At the heart of the project is the construction of a new dam on Lesotho’s Makhaleng River, linked to a 700km water conveyance network spanning the region.
The system is expected to supply:
- 150 million m³/year to Botswana
- 100 million m³/year within Lesotho
- 68 million m³/year to South Africa
The project will support economic growth, improve climate resilience and strengthen water access for millions of people across the region.
Project Progress
Comprehensive prefeasibility studies completed in 2022 confirmed the project’s technical and financial viability. Approved by ORASECOM in 2024, the studies recommended a gravity-fed pipeline system supported by booster pump stations to navigate mountainous terrain across Lesotho and South Africa.
Funding and Partnerships
The total project cost is estimated at USD 2.6 billion, with project preparation costs estimated at approximately USD 6 million.
Funding support has been secured from key development partners, including:
- African Water Facility
- Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility
- Southern African Development Community
- KfW Development Bank
Current funding supports technical feasibility work, environmental and social impact studies, and financial, legal and institutional assessments.
Driving Regional Integration
The project will be implemented by Orange-Senqu River Commission with technical and institutional support from the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
As one of Africa’s flagship transboundary infrastructure projects, the Lesotho–Botswana Water Transfer Project demonstrates how regional collaboration can unlock sustainable development, shared prosperity and long-term climate resilience.