Dams & Hydro

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Dams & Hydro

Our Dams & Hydro division is internationally recognised as a leading proponent of RCC dam technology and most specifically RCC arches. Our team has been involved in projects across five continents, with dam heights ranging from 5 to 280m. ARQ has been responsible for more than 7 million m³ of RCC placed to date.

We have also been involved in a number of hydropower projects in Central Africa and Central America on schemes ranging in capacity from 0.5 to 1 200 MW. We offer a comprehensive range of services from pre-feasibility, through specialist design and analysis, to construction supervision and safety inspections.

Our innovative solutions to increase dam capacity and to realise cost savings have established the firm as a technological leader within the industry. Over the past decade we have acted as expert reviewers in the field of dams for the World Bank, the SA Department of Water Affairs and several other major clients.

ARQ has also provided consulting services to South Africa’s electricity utility ESKOM.

Click here to view the ARQ Dams Profile document.

Unravelling the Mysteries of the Katse Dam Seismic Belt and Performed Joint

SANCOLD 2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 5-6 November 2025 By Ryan Cassells, ARQ Dams Pty Ltd -co-author QHW Shaw, L Phooko, R Hlajoane and L Hattingh, South Africa. Considering that significant developments have been made in analysis systems for arch dams since the design of Katse Dam in the 1990s, in their 2018 review, the Panel of […]

SANCOLD 2025 Young Persons Forum Award

A definite highlight for ARQ Dams at the 2025 SANCOLD Annual Conference was the award of the Young Persons Forum Award for best paper and presenter to Nelodi Geldenhuys, an exceptional achievement, considering that it was her first presentation ever at a SANCOLD Conference. Congratulations to Nelodi and ARQ Dams for continue building on their […]

SANCOLD 2025

The SANCOLD 2025 Annual Conference, took place in Johannesburg, South Africa on 5 and 6 November and covered the very relevant topic “Investing in the future through Dams”. ARQ Dams was again well presented, as Chairperson, Secretariat, Review Panel and as presenters of six papers. These papers were presented by Ryan Cassells, Nelodi Geldenhuys and […]

28th ICOLD CONGRESS & 93TH ANNUAL MEETING

🌍 ARQ on the Global Stage – International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) 2025 Two of our colleagues, Michelle Blaeser and Henry-John Wright, are proudly representing ARQ at the 28th ICOLD Congress & 93rd Annual Meeting currently underway in Chengdu, China 🇨🇳. Michelle presented her paper titled “Faultless Foundations Drying Up”, while Henry-John shared insights […]

Foundation and Foundation Treatment Design of an Off-Channel Storage Dam

SANCOLD 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE 6-7 November 2024 By Michelle Blaeser, ARQ Dams Pty Ltd, South Africa. Consideration of geological features through comprehensive investigations conducted throughout several phases of dam design, will ensure the most appropriate means of foundation preparation and treatment at the site. Prior to the design phase at Olifantspoort Off-Channel Storage Dam, […]