Impounding of the Dikatlhong Dam
After a construction period of some four years, impounding of the Dikgatlhong Dam on the Lower Shashe River in Botswana started in mid-December 2011, with the water reaching a depth of around 18 m (some 11% of capacity) in early January 2012. The dam will be capable of impounding 400 million cubic metres of water, easily surpassing the capacity of the Gaborone Dam (previously Botswana largest dam) which can impound some 141 million cubic metres at full capacity. Construction has been undertaken by Sinohydro (China).
The integrity of the completed dam is being carefully monitored during impounding, particularly as far as quantifying any seepage flows and measuring pore pressure build-up in the embankments, by means of pre-installed seepage weirs and piezometers respectively.
The detailed design review and tender documentation for the dam, the detailed design of its raw water transfer system (75 kms x 1200 mm dia pipeline and a 4MW pumping station), and construction supervision of all of these works is being undertaken by a JV between Bergstan/Gauff (Botswana) and Jeffares & Green (South Africa).
Work also started on the construction of the above raw water pipeline and pump station towards the end of 2011, and currently the pipeline route is being cleared and construction has begun on the earthworks for the pump station platform. The contractor is a joint venture between China State (China) and Excavator Hire (Botswana).
The combined works value of the whole project exceeds R2.5 billion.
The new dam and associated infrastructure will eventually provide an additional 3000 litres per second of raw water delivered to the existing national North-South carrier pipeline (also being upgraded) which currently transports water from the Letsibogo Dam near Selebi Phikwe to Botswana's capital, Gaborone.
In addition, water from the Dikgatlhong Dam will also be used for the planned expansion of the Moropule Power Station near Palapye, as well as for the provision of water supply to nearby villages previously reliant on ground water.
The integrity of the completed dam is being carefully monitored during impounding, particularly as far as quantifying any seepage flows and measuring pore pressure build-up in the embankments, by means of pre-installed seepage weirs and piezometers respectively.
The detailed design review and tender documentation for the dam, the detailed design of its raw water transfer system (75 kms x 1200 mm dia pipeline and a 4MW pumping station), and construction supervision of all of these works is being undertaken by a JV between Bergstan/Gauff (Botswana) and Jeffares & Green (South Africa).
Work also started on the construction of the above raw water pipeline and pump station towards the end of 2011, and currently the pipeline route is being cleared and construction has begun on the earthworks for the pump station platform. The contractor is a joint venture between China State (China) and Excavator Hire (Botswana).
The combined works value of the whole project exceeds R2.5 billion.
The new dam and associated infrastructure will eventually provide an additional 3000 litres per second of raw water delivered to the existing national North-South carrier pipeline (also being upgraded) which currently transports water from the Letsibogo Dam near Selebi Phikwe to Botswana's capital, Gaborone.
In addition, water from the Dikgatlhong Dam will also be used for the planned expansion of the Moropule Power Station near Palapye, as well as for the provision of water supply to nearby villages previously reliant on ground water.
- Tags: Dams
