Italian firm wins Neckartal Dam tender
The controversial N$2.8 billion tender for the construction of the Neckartal Dam, and Phase 1 of the Bulk Water Supply in the Karas Region has been awarded to Italian company Salini S.p.A.
In a statement, the Tender Board of Namibia Deputy Chairperson, Ambassador William Amagulu said
Salini S.p.A beat three other finalists short-listed for the tender that has attracted negative media headlines in the past because of irregularities.
By winning the tender, Salini S.p.A beat Egyptian company Vinci-Orascom Joint Venture and CSC Neckartal Dam Joint Venture, a joint venture of Stefanutti Stocks and CMC de Ravenna to the lucrative tender.
The Neckartal Dam Project will be constructed in the Snyfontein and Berseba areas, some 60 kilometres north-west of Keetmanshoop in the Karas Region.
The project is aimed at collecting water from the Fish River. The water will then be used for the irrigation of community gardens in the Snyfontein area.
The Ministryof Agricluture and Water Resources has budgeted N$3,25 billion for strategic water supply infrastructure development. Apart from the construction of the Neckartal Dam, the money will also be spent on cleaning the lower part of the Fish River channel, completing construction of the water supply schemes to the settlements of Aus and Grünau as well as the reconstruction of the Hardap Dam.
The tender was supposed to be awarded in December 2011 but due to alleged irregularities and the Tender Board’s failure to agree on which company should get the job, it was re-advertised in April 2012.
