'Muela Hydropower Station and Tail-pond Dam
The LHWP is primarily a water transfer system, but at
'Muela the water en route to South Africa is put to good use, powering an underground hydroelectric power station that generates electricity to supply the needs of Lesotho. (Before the station was built, electricity had to be bought from South Africa.)
Water exits from the three 24MW turbines into the 'Muela tailpond, a 55m high, 6 million cubic metre capacity dam. Built on the Nqoe River, it provides the headwater for the continuation of water delivery to South Africa. A bell mouth intake in the dam takes water first into the Delivery Tunnel South and then Delivery Tunnel North for delivery to the Ash River Outfall.
