October 2, 2015, Windhoek, Namibia – The Chinese National Committee on Large Dams (CHINCOLD) and the Spanish National Committee on Large Dams (SPANCOLD) jointly hosted the 7th International Symposium on Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) Dams on September 24-26, 2015. As part of an International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) initiative toward African development on dams and hydropower, Principal Civil Engineer Gert Cloete from the Knight Piésold Windhoek office was sponsored by CHINCOLD to attend the symposium and technical tour.

The symposium was held in the City of Chengdu, the commercial centre of southwest China. Presentations addressed several aspects of RCC dams and also newer dam types such as cementitious material dams (CMD). During a round table meeting at the end of the symposium, the African delegates had the opportunity to present the current status and development potential of dams and hydropower in their respective countries. Gert discussed the Neckertal Dam and the proposed Vioolsdrift Dam, and several potential hydropower sites in the Cunene, Kavango, and the Orange Rivers in southern Africa. 

Gert will be speaking at the 84th ICOLD Annual Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa on May 15-20, 2016.