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InfraPITCH: Lesotho–Botswana Water Transfer Project

Executive Summary Case Study Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer Project Project Overview A transboundary water infrastructure project addressing a severe and growing water deficit across three Southern African nations. The project…

The African Catalyst · 02 Apr 2026 · 1 min read

Executive Summary

Case Study 

Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer Project

Project Overview

A transboundary water infrastructure project addressing a severe and growing water deficit across three Southern African nations.

The project proposed a 124-metre concrete arch dam on the Makhaleng River in Lesotho, combined with a 700-kilometre pipeline delivering water to Botswana (150 million cubic metres per year), Lesotho (97 million cubic metres), and South Africa (63 million cubic metres). In the long run, the project would integrate a 35-45 MW hydropower component to reduce Lesotho’s significant electricity import dependency.

The project is a designated priority under the NEPAD Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and already has an existing Memorandum of Agreement from 2013 between the three sovereign states. Total project CapEx was estimated at $2.5 billion, with a preparation funding gap of $3.2 million.

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