ABSTRACT
In Alentejo region, at the southeast of Portugal, the Alqueva arch dam has been completed recently on the Guadiana river, creating the largest European reservoir. One of the main purposes of the Alqueva Project is the production of electricity. Two 135 MVA reversible generating units have been installed in the powerhouse located just downstream of the main dam. The Hydroelectric Project will be completed now with the construction of the Pedrógão RCC dam 23 km downstream of the main dam. The construction of the Pedrógão dam has been awarded in July 2002 to a Consortium of two Portuguese Contractors: Consórcio Engil – Mota who retain FOSCE as its RCC Consulting Engineer. The works are progressing on schedule, and it is expected to be placing RCC in the main dam in the winter 2003/04. The paper describes the site planning and construction methods for the Pedrógão Dam, the first RCC dam to be constructed in Portugal. In addition details of the alternative design features and alternative specifications that have been implemented at Pedrógão RCC dam are described in the paper and compared to those originally included in the tender documents.
