ABSTRACT
The Biópio dam is a 19 m high structure, concluded in 1956 on the Catumbela river, about 50 km from the town of Lobito (Angola), being its main purpose the production of energy. The dam is essentially composed by the bottom discharge, on the left bank, and seven spill weir blocks with thin piers, supporting 15 m high automatic tilt gates and a roadway deck, with a total length of 156 m. Inspections carried out in 2007 and 2009 revealed, besides a large deterioration of the dam, appurtenant works and respective equipment, the development of large cavities in some piers, near the support of the gates, which allow the reservoir water to enter into and put under pressure the drainage gallery. As a first step for the full rehabilitation and upgrading of the dam, the owner (the National Energy Enterprise of Angola- ENE EP), with the support of the Energies of Portugal – EDP International, considered of interest the first repair of the above referred to cavities. This paper reports on the major aspects of these works.
