CASE STUDY: VESMISA II DAM

Location: Nicaragua

Surface area: 147.000 m2

Product: Geomembrane ALVATECH HDPE 2 FIX 1,5mm

Context

In October 2023, SOTRAFA was selected as a supplier for the supply of geomembranes for the construction of the Vesmisa II Dam in Nicaragua. This project, led by HEMCO, a leading company in the regional mining industry, demanded a high quality and reliable solution to ensure effective tailings containment in a challenging geographical and climatic environment.

HEMCO, a Nicaraguan subsidiary of the Colombian-based MINEROS Group, specialises in gold mining exploration and exploitation. Operating under the name HEMCO-NICARAGUA, S.A. since 1995, it has an annual production of some 130,000 ounces of gold per year. The Bonanza mine is located 420 km northeast of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.

Challenge

The project faced extreme conditions. The RACCN experiences a tropical monsoon climate with an average annual rainfall of 2761 mm (compared to 621 mm in London). The region also experiences exceptionally high solar radiation, and Nicaragua is prone to seismic activity.

Solution

For the construction of this dam, 147,000.00m2 of ALVATECH FIX 2F HDPE 1.50 mm (GM13) geomembrane was used. The selection of the geomembrane was carried out by HEMCO’s engineering team with the support of CITLAND INTERNATIONAL DE MEXICO for consultation on geosynthetic installation details.

The materials were delivered within the tight schedule requested by HEMCO, considering that the rainy season in the region significantly hinders the installation of geosynthetics. The installation was completed in a record time of two and a half months.

The Vesmisa II dam was built with the vision of durability and safety in mind with three semi-independent vessels to facilitate filling in three stages. Our geomembranes, with their 7.50 metre width, allowed for a reduction in the number of welds required, improving the efficiency and structural integrity of the site. In addition, the higher safety coefficient provided by ALVATECH FIX (block height >0.90mm) ensures reliable tailings containment in all conditions.

Since 2019, HEMCO, a leader in the mining industry, has consistently chosen SOTRAFA’s ALVATECH geomembranes for its expansion projects, demonstrating its continued confidence in our quality and performance.