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INSIGHT : Lesotho Highlands Water Project won’t fix Gauteng’s infrastructure and supply woes

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The completion of Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project in 2028 could potentially provide Gauteng with an adequate water supply. However, the effectiveness of this solution is contingent on the repair of aging municipal infrastructure. Without such repairs, the additional water supply will not fully address the water challenges faced by the region. According to experts, political influence caused the delay in the completion of Phase 2 and corruption might have also been a major factor. The experts also agree that change in [the] Lesotho government was not a factor in the delay because the TCTA held firm, and managed to withstand this powerful attempt to hijack the process. This is consistent with an earlier case in which the TCTA successfully resisted major corruption by winning a legal battle that put a senior official of the Lesotho government into jail. Growing demand The demand for water in Gauteng, South Africa, has significantly increased due to population growth and le
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NEWS: Circular solutions are vital to curb enviro harm from cement and concrete

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Demand for cement and concrete is set to grow, especially in developing countries to improve infrastructure and living standards. Experts say that solutions reigning in the sector’s environmental footprint are vital, especially curbing greenhouse gas emissions that could absorb a major chunk of our remaining carbon budget.


A hardhatNEWS article highlights the detrimental environmental impact of cement and concrete production on climate change, human health, and biodiversity. Cement manufacturing, particularly, contributes significantly to global carbon emissions due to the high energy consumption and chemical processes involved. The growing demand for cement and concrete, especially in developing countries, further exacerbates these challenges.


The article emphasizes the urgent need for circular solutions to address the environmental threats posed by the cement and concrete supply chain. Experts suggest a combination of technological advancements, material changes, improved resource efficiency, and circular economy approaches. These include electrifying cement kilns, utilizing low-carbon concrete, implementing carbon capture technologies, and exploring natural building materials. Additionally, reducing concrete waste through recycling and reusing building materials is also essential.


The article also acknowledges that six of the nine planetary boundaries, including climate change, biodiversity integrity, nitrogen and phosphorus emissions, novel entities, freshwater change, and land system change, have already been crossed due to the environmental impacts of cement and concrete production. It underscores the importance of public procurement of infrastructure and the role of governments in prioritizing low-carbon solutions for new building projects.


The full hardhatNEWS article was published on Mongabay


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