Cracks on Karuma dam won’t affect functionality - experts

A team of dam construction engineers look at the cracks on the spillway of Karuma Dam now under construction. They say the cracks are remedial. FILE PHOTO

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Progress. Work had been put on hold to assess the impact of the cracks.

Kampala.

A team of dam construction experts from Sinohydro Corporation China has said the cracks which were reported on the spillway at the Karuma Dam, currently under construction, are just common cracks in construction industry which are remediable and therefore will not affect the overall functionality of the 600MW dam.

This was contained in a report on “Dam Concrete Crack Analysis and Preventative/Improvement Measures,” the experts handed over to Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) last week following three weeks of investigations.

Following a visit to the dam recently, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ms Irene Muloni, instructed that work on the Spillway be put on hold and investigations go on to ascertain the impact of the cracks on the functionality of the dam.

Acting on the minister’s directive, the team of experts from Sinohydro China, led by Mr Yang Yixin, arrived in Uganda on April 20, to carry out detailed investigation and has handed over a report with remedial steps to be taken to UEGCL.

“The cracks after treatment with appropriate methodology shall have no adverse effect on the overall dam structure and its functionality. Sinohydro has commenced the procurement of equipment and materials for the treatment of cracks,” the report stated.

According to the report, the experts worked with more than 30 specialists in design and construction of concrete works on the ground.

They also analysed the causes of cracks and formulated remedial measures for the treatment and draft preventative/improvement measures to be adopted in concrete works construction based on the study of the drilled cores and construction methodologies.

The report was submitted to UEGCL and the owner for assessment and approval within a month’s time prescribed by the Minister of Energy.