South Africa

Hazelmere Dam Strengthening and Upgrade Contract

  • Client

    Group Five

  • Sector

    Water Infrastructure

  • Service

    Engineering & Construction

  • Expertise

    Structural Strengthening Work, High-Capacity Permanent Anchors

SRG Global played a key role in upgrading and strengthening Hazelmere Dam in Durban, South Africa, to enhance its capacity and stability. Initially completed in 1976, the concrete gravity arch-type structure required enhancements to accommodate a proposed water storage increase. From 2015 to 2017, our team installed the world’s equal highest capacity permanent ground anchors to enable raising the dam water supply capacity level by seven meters, and improving the dam stability. During the tender period, we proposed an alternate efficient anchor solution, replacing the original design with larger anchors up to 91-strands reducing the number of anchors needed from 243No to only 83No. and optimising construction.

After undertaking at the time the world’s largest test anchor program we then went on from March 2016 to December 2017, we went on to completed drilling, waterproofing, anchor fabrication, installation, grouting, testing, and corrosion protection. Despite financial delays, we returned in July 2022 to finalise the project, using the world’s largest post-tensioning jacks. By October 2022, the last of the anchors were stressed, with permanent load cells installed to these final 10No. anchors and load monitoring completed to the 73No. previously loaded anchors by December 2022. With its increased storage capacity, Hazelmere Dam now meets international safety standards, marking a significant milestone in its history and ensuring its stability for future needs.