SANCOLD Annual Conference 2024

SANCOLD invites all from South Africa, Africa and the wider family of ICOLD to participate in the Conference which will include technical presentations, technical site visit and an exhibition. This event will offer dam and water resources engineers as well as all contributing to the dam engineering industry important international, regional and local linkages, networking and the exchange of knowledge and experience opportunities.

SANCOLD 2024 will be an ECSA Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited event and attendance for all three days will receive 3.0 credits (1 credit/day).

Organising Committee

The Organising Committee for this event consists of the Secretary: SANCOLD as well as a number of SANCOLD Management Committee Members. SANCOLD have appointed Qinisa as the Professional Conference Organiser (PCO). Details to follow.

Background to the Conference

The general theme of the SANCOLD Conference 2024 is “Water preservation a critical requirement for sustainability”. With indications of rolling water blackouts in South Africa, water preservation in any form is considered critical at the moment.

Dams not only secures water storage but are also sources of economic growth. Sustainability in South Africa requires crucially potable water, but water is also required for agriculture and economic industries, such as mining. Measures to store and preserve water in South Africa, which is a water-scarce country is paramount. More dams will provide additional storage and is needed especially with the El-Nino effect expected in South-Africa. As global temperatures rise and the climate continues to change, competition for water will increase.

The reliance on dams for water, power and protection against flooding and droughts means expansion of the dam network will likely occur, but the preservation of water for the future will change how dams (and distribution systems) are maintained and managed.

Conference Theme and Topics

The general theme of the SANCOLD Conference 2024 is “Water preservation a critical requirement for sustainability”. A listing of the topics is given below as an aid towards the formulation of a suitable paper within the Conference theme. Please note that the topics are not exhaustive and papers satisfying the conference theme can also be submitted under Topic 12: Other. Abstracts and papers are invited under the following topics:

• Modern technologies and methods in the design and construction of new dams
• Climate and environmental adaption
• Dam Rehabilitation
• Emergency Management and Public Safety
• Decommissioning of dams
• Tailings Dam Operations/lifecycles and dam closure
• Dams for water retention or flood control
• Geotechnical aspects of dams and water engineering structures
• Dam Safety and Risk Management
• Hybridization of renewable energy systems
• Pump Storage schemes and hydro power development
• Other

Call for Papers and Abstract

The abstract should indicate the paper title, the author(s) and the text should not exceed 200 words. Details on the abstract template and submission will be available shortly. This will be communicated in the second announcement.

Once the abstract has been received and accepted, the author/s will be provided with a document which sets out the required format for the full paper. The full paper will be subject to peer review. A substantial prize for the best paper by a Young Engineer (see below) will be awarded. The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 31 May 2024.

Submit papers and abstracts here

Important Dates: SANCOLD 2024

Call for Papers (First Announcement)	Friday 26 April 2024
Abstract submitted	Friday 31 May 2024
Abstract approval	Friday 14 June 2024
Registration Opens	Monday 5 August 2024
Draft paper submission	Friday 30 August 2024
Early Bird registration close	Tuesday 1 October 2024
Draft paper reviewed	Monday 30 September 2024
Final revised paper submission	Monday 21 October 2024

Preliminary Conference Programme

The Conference will commence on Wednesday morning 6 November 2024 with a technical keynote address followed by technical presentations. There will be a meeting and social later in the same evening for the Young Person’s Forum during the Conference, and for all people young at heart. The Conference Dinner will be held on the Thursday evening. The technical tour will take place on Friday 8 November 2024 and is expected to feature dams in Gauteng. The preliminary Conference Programme is shown below:

Tuesday 5 November 2024

• 18:00 – 19:00 Registration

Wednesday 6 November 2024

• 07:00 – 08:00Registration
• 08:00 – 09:00 Welcome by SANCOLD Chairperson & Technical keynote speaker
• 09:00 – 17:30 Technical sessions
• 17:30 – 18:30 Annual General Meeting of SANCOLD (all welcome)
• 19:00 – 22:00 SANCOLD Young Person’s Forum Meeting and Social
• Evening free for other delegates – Padel social for other delegates

Thursday 7 November 2024

• 07:30 – 08:00 Registration
• 08:00 – 17:30 Technical Sessions
• 18:30 Conference Dinner, Awards and Prizes

Friday 8 November 2024

• 07:30 – 08:00 Registration
• 08:00 – 17:00 Technical Tour

VENUE AND ACCOMMODATION

The Wanderers Club
21 North St, Illovo, Johannesburg, 2196
Visit website here

Sponsorship Opportunities

A number of sponsorship opportunities exist and the SANCOLD 2024 Secretariat should be contacted for further detail. Each technical session may receive sponsorship and the sponsor will be entitled to make a five-minute presentation at the start of the session on their organisation. These sponsorship opportunities include:

• Conference Sessions;
• YPF dinner;
• Conference dinner;
• Lunches;
• Conference notebooks;
• Lanyards;
• USB Memory Sticks for presentations and proceedings;
• Conference proceedings

For more information click here

Exhibition

The SANCOLD Conference 2024 Exhibition is an opportunity to show the Dam Community what you can do. The event is expected to attract around 200 delegates from South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world. The Exhibition will be in the entrance hall of the Conference Centre. Early booking of exhibition space is recommended as the number of spaces could be restricted. The Exhibition will be held on the first two days of the conference (6 and 7 November 2024). The approximate size of each exhibition area is 2 x 3 m. (Table and two chairs included). Stand allocation will be based on when payment has been received. If you wish to discuss the matter further, please do not hesitate to contact the Conference Secretariat.

Contact Us

SANCOLD Secretary:
secretary@sancold.org.za
admin@sancold.org.za
Sue@qinisaevents.com