KEETMANSHOOP - The Italian company, Salini Impregilo, tasked with the construction of the multi-billion Neckartal Dam, has ducked questions on alleged irregularities in the working papers given to foreigners at the site as well as the alleged mistreatment of local workers.

Instead, the company says those questions, and other issues, were set to be addressed at a public meeting that was supposedly scheduled for sometime this week.

The company did however express its satisfaction with the pace of construction amid adverse weather conditions in the west of Keetmanshoop where the dam is being constructed, as well as unseasonal river heights, physical conditions, and material supply constraints.

""We are reasonably satisfied with the progress made thus far, considering the challenges we encountered and which we are in the process of surmounting. Many of the challenges have been negated with the ongoing cooperation of the engineer and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and other associated ministries,"" Malcolm Manford, contract manager at Salini’s Keetmanshoop offices, told New Era.

Manford said construction of the N$2.8 billion Neckartal Dam project 70 km West of Keetmanshoop along the Fish River Canyon is set to be completed within the expected construction period and within the allocated budget.

Salini has been involved in a number of controversies since the commencement of construction, which culminated in a raid at the construction camp by Immigration and Customs officials in the first week of August this year.

The raid was conducted to investigate claims of foreign workers employed without relevant work permits as well as claims of cigarette smuggling by expatriates. In June this year Salini admitted to spending millions of dollars on accommodation for its foreign workers in a span of 5 months, while local workers lived in poor conditions.

Manford nevertheless said relations between workers and management are ""congenial"" and that a ""harmonious"" working relationship has been developed and prevails.

During May this year the workers on site threatened to down tools, accusing the company of unfair labour practices and poor working conditions.

Manford says construction teams are in the process of establishing permanent works, including the clearing of the riverbed as well as clearing of both abutments, where the dam will be joined to each bank of the canyon.

""The assembly of the equipment for the production of concrete is almost complete and we have started preparing for the foundation of the dam wall. We are also working on the first of the coffer dams,"" explained Manford.

Manford estimated that the huge infrastructural project, which is the first phase of the Neckartal irrigation scheme that will irrigate 5 000 hectares of land for agricultural development of the area, will use approximately 110 000 tonnes of cement to produce one million cubic metres of concrete for the dam and associated structures. This is enough concrete to construct a straight wall three metres high, 450mm thick, from Keetmanshoop to Cape Town in South Africa.

The Neckartal Dam will be constructed with roller compacted concrete and will stand about 76 metres in height. The dam will harness the water of the Fish River to produce power and create a reservoir holding 857 million cubic metres of water.

A crossing and a pumping station, along with the relevant intake structure, will be built 13 km downstream from the dam.

The water will flow through an 8.7-km steel pipe with a diameter of 1.1-metre to reach a reservoir that is also part of the project.

Salini currently employs just over 370 people, with 44 expatriates, both at its Keetmanshoop office and on site, while the 15 subcontractors on the project currently employ about 350 workers. ""The number of Salini employees will top out at about 800 people for all categories,"" said Manford.