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Crossing inaugurated by Ramaphosa on April 22 completes R$ 53 billion water megaproject between Lesotho and South Africa
Lesotho inaugurated the Senqu Bridge Lesotho on April 22, 2026, a bridge 825 meters long and 90 meters high. The crossing opened over the Senqu River valley, which gives the country its name.
According to the official statement from the South African Presidency, the inauguration was attended by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Prime Minister of Lesotho, Sam Matekane, also participated in the ceremony. It was a binational milestone for southern Africa.
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According to the Italian construction company Webuild, the project used advanced concrete formworks. The engineering had to face extreme wind from the Highlands.
Therefore, the Senqu Bridge Lesotho delivers much more than a crossing. It completes the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 2, a regional water megaproject.
In fact, the total megaproject reaches R$ 53 billion. It is the largest joint infrastructure project in history between Lesotho and South Africa.
What is the Senqu Bridge Lesotho and why it matters
The Senqu Bridge Lesotho is located in the Mokhotlong district, in the country’s highlands. The local altitude exceeds 2,000 meters above sea level.
As reported by Newsday Lesotho, the bridge crosses the reservoir that will be created by the Polihali dam. Without the bridge, the Mokhotlong-Maseru road would be impassable during the reservoir filling.
Therefore, the project had a tight deadline. Polihali began impounding water at the end of 2025.
In parallel, the Italian Webuild was the leading company. According to the Global Construction Review, the construction company celebrated the delivery as an “epochal bridge in the highlands.”
According to Webuild, the project involved 1,500 workers at the peak of execution. Most were local Lesotho labor.
Thus, the project also served as a technology transfer. Lesotho gained national capacity for heavy construction of cable-stayed bridges.
Technical data of the Senqu Bridge Lesotho
The Senqu Bridge Lesotho is 825 meters in total length. The height over the reservoir reaches 90 meters.
According to PERI South Africa, supplier of the formworks, 75,000 tons of concrete were required. The iron used totaled 8,500 tons.
In fact, the project involved 2 and a half years of continuous construction. It began in October 2023 and was delivered in April 2026.
In parallel, the total cost was R$ 2.4 billion. According to the Ecofin Agency, this amount is equivalent to US$ 146 million.
- Length: 825 meters
- Height: 90 meters over the reservoir
- Concrete used: 75,000 tons
- Structural iron: 8,500 tons
- Workers at peak: 1,500
- Cost: R$ 2.4 billion (US$ 146 million)
- Construction: October 2023 to April 2026
- Construction company: Webuild (Italy)
The Senqu Bridge completes the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase 2
The Senqu Bridge Lesotho is a key component of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. According to the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, Phase 2 will be completed in 2028.
The project has been binational since 1986. Lesotho, a landlocked country, exports treated water to South Africa.
Therefore, the water passes from Lesotho to Gauteng, the metropolitan region of Johannesburg. The agreement generates hard currency royalties that sustain Lesotho’s budget.
In parallel, Phase 2 includes the Polihali dam. As reported by Engineering News, the filling reached 1,977 m elevation in December 2025.
Thus, Polihali becomes the largest reservoir in the southern hemisphere for water transfer. The stored volume doubles the capacity of phase 1 (Katse Dam).
In fact, full operation begins in 2028. The hydroelectric component of the project is expected to start production in 2029.
Lesotho’s energy crisis and the role of the Senqu Bridge
The Senqu Bridge Lesotho also has an energy dimension. The Polihali dam will generate electricity for over 1 million people.
According to the Pulitzer Center, Lesotho has faced a “perennial energy crisis” in recent years. Droughts drastically reduced the generation of the existing ‘Muela plant.
Therefore, the expansion of hydroelectric capacity is strategic. The country is dependent on energy imports from South Africa.
In parallel, diversification reduces vulnerability. According to an analysis by the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, the hydroelectric plant will cover 65% of national demand.
According to the Lesotho government, Prime Minister Matekane stated that “the project will change the country’s economy for the next 50 years.”
Thus, the Senqu Bridge Lesotho becomes a symbol of economic transformation. It is not just a bridge — it is the key to the region’s water and energy security.
What Brazil can learn from the Senqu Bridge Lesotho
The case of the Senqu Bridge Lesotho is an interesting reference for Brazil. It shows how binational cooperation accelerates large projects.
Therefore, Brazilian projects like the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway could replicate the model. Brazil-Paraguay-Bolivia share basins but have coordination difficulties.
In parallel, the use of local labor and specialized Italian construction company is a reference. Webuild already operates in Brazil on other megaengineering projects.
According to an analysis by the The Diplomatic Society, the bridge became a “symbol of regional cooperation in Southern Africa.”
For another case of comparison of megaprojects, it is worth reading the coverage by Click Petróleo e Gás on binational energy operations.
For another recent Chinese infrastructure project, check out the coverage by Click Petróleo e Gás on strategic Arctic routes.
It is worth noting that phase 2 of the project is not yet completed. The 2028 schedule depends on hydrological stability in the next 2 years.
Despite this, the Senqu Bridge has already fulfilled its main role. In April 2026, it delivered connection and symbolism to a historically isolated region of Southern Africa.
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