Yntymak Damm and Reservoir in Kazakhstan

Between 1982 and 1984 the Yntymak Dam was built at the Nura River in Kazakhstan, to the west of Caraganda. The stored water was mainly intended for the irrigation of areas to be used in the future. In 1984 construction works were stopped, although important parts in respect of the operating facilities of the dam were still missing.

 

In autumn 2005, the "Committee for Water Ressources (CWR)" awarded ILF the contract for engineering services concerning the preparation of the general project, the detailed project and the tender documents in cooperation with Posch & Partners.

 

Due to the extreme weather conditions in winter time (with heavy winds and temperatures under - 40° C) the ground exploration had to be interrupted several times, since neither quality of the works nor adequate supply of the team could be secured. Nevertheless the general project will be handed over soon.

 

The intended purpose of the dam has been altered decisively ever since the 1980s. Mercury has been deposited in the reservoir by factories situated upstream that meanwhile have been closed down. The dam is intended to hold the mercury within the reservoir area and to prevent the mercury from being transported further down the river Nura. The project is being financed by the World Bank.

 

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