Dams & Hydro

Ambarau Dam is a 22 m high diversion structure for a 11 MW run-of-river hydropower plant on the perennial Kibali River. Construction speed and simplicity were of particular importance and 30 000 m³ of Hardfill was mixed using a road recycler, while impermeability was assured with a 3350 m² Carpi membrane. The scheme was brought into full operation in early 2017.

ARQ was initially appointed to review and improve the preliminary designs for the proposed dam. Demonstrating that a Hardfill dam type would represent the optimal solution in terms of construction speed, cost and safety, ARQ was subsequently requested to take the dam design into full implementation. With the power station works more advanced than the impoundment/diversion structure, the design included a number of retrofitting facilities to ensure compatibility with the hydropower works.

During project implementation, ARQ undertook the Hardfill mix design and the associated development testing and trials. Innovative mixing techniques utilising available equipment and resources were developed to accommodate the constraints of the environment, chiefly the isolated location and limitations on expensive plant.

Project details