The Mozambican government, through the Southern Regional Water Administration (ARA-Sul), will invest approximately $4 million in the rehabilitation of the Massingir Dam, following floods on the Elefantes River this year that forced, for the first time, the automatic activation of the auxiliary emergency spillway.
According to ARA-Sul Director-General Edgar Chongo, the intervention includes the replacement of concrete blocks in the emergency discharge system and the substitution of electrical equipment.
"We are replacing the concrete blocks at Massingir, and we are also replacing the electrical equipment. We are talking about an investment of approximately $4 million," Chongo said.
The dam faced one of the most severe flood events recorded on the Elefantes River in recent years, with high water volumes originating from upstream countries. Both the bottom outlet and the main flood spillway operated at the limits of their capacity, leading to the activation of the auxiliary emergency system.
The mechanism is designed to engage automatically when water levels reach extreme conditions, functioning as the dam's last line of defence. Its activation does not in itself indicate a structural failure, but reflects the exceptional intensity of this year's flood event.
ARA-Sul has already mobilised a contractor to replace the affected components. The institution is also expected to assess the capacity of the downstream restitution channels and any additional intervention requirements.
Safety Upgrades
This year's floods are also expected to prompt the reinforcement of safety systems at other hydraulic infrastructure. At the Corumana Dam, which currently lacks an emergency spillway equivalent to Massingir's, ARA-Sul plans to install a similar mechanism.
Despite the extreme flood episodes, storage levels at the main reservoirs in the southern region are considered satisfactory. With approximately 30 days remaining before the start of the next rainy season, Pequenos Libombos and Corumana were recording levels close to 90%, while Massingir stood at above 70%.
"For next year, the next two years, we are comfortable," Chongo said, while cautioning that the intensity and duration of any El Niño climate episodes could affect water reserves.
ARA-Sul is also modernising its hydrological monitoring network through the installation of automatic telemetric stations capable of transmitting data in real time. The measure aims to improve early flood warning capacity, particularly given the risks associated with runoff from countries upstream of the main river basins.
"The greatest risk is the runoff coming from upstream countries," the director-general concluded.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/11/negocios/infra-estruturas/gaza-governo-vai-investir-4-m-na-reabilitacao-da-barragem-de-massingir/
