The consultancy simultaneously offers engineering professionals opportunities to gain experience in dam safety and maintenance projects, despite limited opportunities for new dam construction in the country.

There is a need for a “deliberate effort” by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), as the main regulator and custodian of water infrastructure in the country to support the training and development of new dam engineers. This could involve creating more opportunities for young engineers to participate in these projects, or facilitating mentorship and knowledge transfer from the older generation of approved persons, says Lubisi MD Chalmers Pagiwa, adding that project management plays a key role in realising this goal.

Lubisi liaises with stakeholders involved in the dam’s ownership and operations, including managing the client’s requirements and clarifying the project’s objectives.

“Our team manages the integration of all necessary engineering disciplines, ensuring that every stage is professionally coordinated. We handle the regulatory applications, assemble and manage the required specialists, and oversee the design review and approval process with the DWS,” he says.

Before a dam’s construction is commissioned, Lubisi offers an early-stage feasibility solution to identify the viability of the dam from “an engineering and a regulatory perspective”.

“Before construction begins, all risks are identified, and an occupational health and safety plan is developed and agreed upon. The contractor is responsible for implementing this plan, with ongoing monitoring throughout construction. Our team participates in specifying and reviewing safety protocols, ensuring that all regulatory requirements are met, and that construction proceeds according to approved designs.

“We supervise critical phases, such as foundation preparation, and ensure compliance with all safety and quality standards,” Pagiwa notes.

From dam design to certification and various engineering tasks, Lubisi can avert the “significant risks” that might occur during construction.

For Pagiwa, proper dam design and engineering is crucial for ensuring the dam’s efficiency, facilitating compliance and helping safeguard worker health and safety.

“For public-sector projects . . . we often start with projects identified through Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), which are then subjected to technical feasibility assessments before being finalised for inclusion in the IDP,” he adds.

Additionally, the company liaises with various engineers, industry experts, and government and private stakeholders to ensure that the project meets various regulatory requirements. This includes ensuring that water licences are in order and that every project type aligns with its specific regulations.

The regulatory checks encompass a review of all applicable government infrastructure development frameworks to ensure that all legal and technical requirements are met before moving to detailed design and implementation.

“By simply engaging a consulting engineering firm with expertise in navigating the regulatory landscape, one that understands the system, the application processes and the necessary approvals, clients can avoid costly mistakes,” he adds.

By ensuring compliance, clients and stakeholders can avoid penalties or fines for noncompliance, and avert financial losses caused by not following regulations.

Pagiwa says these considerations underpin all tasks relating to ensuring efficiency and safety – especially during the dam’s foundation stage, during which it must be ensured that the dam is watertight and capable of bearing immense loads.

Going forward, he says more new engineering professionals ought to pursue the discipline of dam construction, and that continued investment in training and supporting new dam engineers should be a top priority across the board, even though opportunities are limited.

“In the absence of new builds, young engineers can develop expertise by working on dam safety assessments, ongoing maintenance and projects that involve increasing the height or capacity of existing dams. These activities still require the application of dam engineering principles and allow for some degree of specialisation and practical learning,” he concludes.