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.

DWA: Dams Rehabilitation

The Department of Water Affairs undertook necessary rehabilitation and betterment works on a number of dams for which safety concerns existed. The Goba-ARQ Joint Venture was appointed for the Group 1 dams, which includes Nsami Dam at Guyani, Modjadji Dam near Duiwelskloof, Molepo Dam near Haenertsburg, Chuniespoort Dam near Polokwane and Bospoort Dam near Rustenburg.

Bramhoek (Ingula PSS)

ARQ lead the dam design team for Eskom’s 1330 MW Ingula Pump Storage Scheme, for which the 48 m high Bedford CFRD dam forms the upstream reservoir and the 37 m high Bramhoek RCC gravity dam forms the lower reservoir. During construction, ARQ provided the Approved Professional Person, as required in terms of the Dam Safety Legislation, for the construction supervision of the Bramhoek Dam.

Wadi Dayqah Dam

Wadi Dayqah Dam, near Quriyat in Oman, was completed in 2009. With very few significant dam sites, Wadi Dayqah is not only the largest dam yet to be constructed, but the largest ever likely to be built in the country. The dam comprises a 77 m high RCC structure, over which the spillway is routed, and a 40 m high rockfill saddle embankment. The 600 000 m³ of concrete comprising the RCC dam was placed between January 2008 and May 2009, with the bulk of the dam body completed by December 2008.

Port St Johns Dam

Situated approximately 17 km north-west of the town of Port St Johns, on communal land in the Lusikisiki District in the Eastern Cape, the Port St Johns Water Supply Scheme will comprise an abstraction works from the Umzumvubu River, an off-channel storage dam, raw water rising mains and a treatment works. The scheme will supplement the greater Regional Water Supply Scheme, providing safe, potable water to the rural communities in the surrounding area.

Changuinola 1 Dam: Milestone International RCC Project Award

At 12 midday on Friday 25th June 2011, Changuinola 1 Dam in Panama reached full capacity and started spilling after 33 days filling at an average inflow of 127 m³/s. By chance, first filling of the dam coincided with the arrival of a small flood. In view of the fact that the designer’s had requested that the build up in discharge on the chute and flip-bucket spillway be filmed and that the most interesting period was anticipated to be during the night, the site team set up some lighting on the spillway and beneath the flip bucket.