Dams Engineering

The design of dams has always been one of the firm's core activities.
SP’s first projects, in the 1960s, were the Legadadi and Busalletta dams (Ethiopia and Italy respectively).
The innovative technical solutions adopted at that time to solve complex engineering problems started our tradition of continuous innovation and research of the highest professional quality.
Today, after more than 4 decades of activity, SP has successfully designed over 160 dams in 25 countries.

RECENTLY COMPLETED
- Gibe II, gravity dam H = 55 m, in Ethiopia
- Bumbuna, rockfill dam H = 74 m, in Sierra Leone 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
- Gibe III, gravity dam H = 240 m, in Ethiopia
- Grand Ethiopian Renaissance, main dam H = 155 m, in Ethiopia.

UNDER DESIGN - some of our most recent advanced designs include:
- Kidunda, rockfill dam H = 25 m, in Tanzania 
- Chespi, arch dam H = 60 m, in Ecuador 
- Namakhvani Cascade, three dams from 30 to 110 m, in Georgia
- Rumakali, rockfill dam H = 90 m, in Tanzania

RECORD - several of our projects are “world records”. The Gibe III dam, with a final height of 240 m, will be the world’s highest RCC dam. Grand Ethiopian Renaissance on the river Nile will be the highest gravity dam in Africa and one of the largest in the world.

ORGANIZATION - from the initial conceptual phase of a new dam project up to the final monitoring of the works in operation, Studio Pietrangeli offers all the consulting engineering services for the design, supervision of works and monitoring, including investigations, environmental studies, contract documents, etc..
SP has designed dams of all types including arch, gravity, arch-gravity, buttress, earthfill, rockfill with bituminous facing and concrete.
Studio Pietrangeli’s staff includes international consultants in the required specialized domains, coordinated and directed by the chief engineers of the firm having more than 45 years’ of experience in the field. Our senior engineers work side by side with passion and enthusiasm with junior engineers who are embarking on this fascinating profession.
The firm’s best business card is its innovative projects, brought to successful completion through a strong partnership with clients, together with the large and complex projects which have been accomplished.