iPresas attends the 5th Dam World Conference 2025 in Lisbon

From April 13 to 17, 2025, the technical team of iPresas had the privilege of participating in the 5th edition of the Dam World Conference, held in Lisbon. The event was organized by the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC), in collaboration with the Portuguese National Committee on Large Dams (CNPGB) and the Brazilian Committee on Dams (CBDB), establishing itself as an international benchmark event in the field of civil engineering applied to dams.

Under the theme “Preserving life through dams,” the conference brought together hundreds of international experts who shared experiences, research, and innovative solutions in the field of dam safety. Over the course of five days, technical presentations, discussion panels, infrastructure visits, and networking sessions addressed the key current challenges in dam management and modernization.

iPresas presents its experience in Mozambique: dam risk analysis

One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation by our colleague Marco Silva, who showcased the work carried out in Mozambique under the title:
“Evaluation of dam safety practices in Mozambique through risk assessment.

This project is part of the initiative “Preparation of the National Water Resources Development Program (NWRDP) and Evaluation of Dam Safety Practices in Mozambique,” led by the National Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation (DNAAS) and funded by the World Bank.

Mozambique is home to a significant number of medium and large dams, which are essential for water supply, irrigation, and energy generation, but face challenges related to their aging condition. These infrastructures are vital for the country’s development, ensuring water availability, agricultural irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation. However, their age and the historically limited investment in maintenance and monitoring pose an increasing risk.

In this context, iPresas applied its expertise gained over more than two decades to develop a series of risk analysis tools at different levels. These tools range from a basic “screening” level to a semi-quantitative assessment, resulting in a prioritized dam safety action plan for six pilot cases through a process that is replicable at the national scale:

  • Validate a risk-based screening tool adapted to Mozambique’s institutional and technical context.
  • Identify critical vulnerabilities in hydraulic infrastructures.
  • Propose a total of 86 improvement measures aimed at:
    • Reducing vulnerabilities.
    • Strengthening monitoring systems.
    • Enhancing dam safety management across the country.

This work demonstrates how civil engineering, when supported by modern risk management tools, can play a key role in strengthening water security and protecting downstream communities.

Dam engineering with a global vision

iPresas presenta el estudio de análisis de riesgo que llevo a cabo en Mozambique

iPresas’ experience in Mozambique reinforces its commitment to dam safety at the international level, especially in developing countries facing major challenges related to climate change, aging infrastructure, and the urgent need to optimize available resources.

Participation in forums such as the Dam World Conference 2025 enables iPresas to share innovative methodologies, learn from other international experiences, and strengthen strategic partnerships with key players in the dam engineering sector.

In a global context where the safe management of water resources is more important than ever, initiatives like this confirm that dam risk analysis is an indispensable tool to ensure sustainable development and the safety of millions of people.