Professional Summary
Abeselom T. Shewareged is a senior Ethiopian Engineering Geologist and Geotechnical Specialist with more than 18 years of high-level experience in mega infrastructure projects across Africa. His work covers tunnels, dams, roads, bridges, hydropower, water transfer infrastructure, rock mechanics, materials engineering, foundations, QA/QC, and advanced geotechnical instrumentation.
He holds an MSc in Geological Engineering from Addis Ababa University and a BSc in Applied Geology from Mekelle University. He is also a Registered Professional Materials Engineer and has strengthened his profile through training in tunnel construction practices, slope engineering, project management, construction law, ISO 9001 quality management systems, R programming, artificial intelligence fundamentals, deep foundation testing, and advanced geotechnical wedge evaluation.
His current role as Senior Tunnel Engineering Geologist with SMEC South Africa in Lesotho places him on the Polihali Transfer Tunnel Project under the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. This major water-transfer scheme includes a 38 km TBM tunnel and an 8 km drill-and-blast NATM tunnel. His responsibilities include geology team leadership, subsurface investigation, tunnel face mapping, geotechnical assessment, support recommendations, probe drilling, grouting advice, shaft and slope assessment, and advanced interpretation of rock mass behaviour.
His previous work on Ethiopia’s largest hydropower projects is exceptional. At the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, he oversaw laboratory and site quality control for Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, including the 145 m high RCC dam, the 5.2 km concrete-faced rockfill saddle dam, permanent bridges, and a permanent airstrip. At Gibe II and Gibe III, he contributed to geological, geomechanical, and hydrogeological activities for a 26 km TBM tunnel, a 245 m RCC gravity dam, dam foundations, powerhouse works, and associated tunnels.
Abeselom’s technical depth is serious. He applies RMR, GSI, Q-System and SMR classification systems; conducts rock mass and slope stability assessments; works with ShapeMetrix, DIBIT, Unwedge, DIPS, Swedge and RS2; and has experience with MPBX extensometers, load cells, 3D Bi-reflex targets, Lugeon permeability testing, dilatometer testing, flat jack testing, anchor bolts, shotcrete, drainage and other remedial works.
His road and bridge experience across Africa further strengthens his profile. With CCCC Highway Consultants, he contributed to geotechnical, pavement and materials design for the 7th Axial Road / Lekki Port Access Road in Nigeria, the Service Base Project of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire, the Bahirdar Abay River Bridge in Ethiopia, and the Wenchi-Dendi Ecotourism Road Network Design and Build Project.
Abeselom brings major value to AquaLinked / Water for Africa Experts because he represents African excellence in complex underground, dam, road and geotechnical infrastructure. He is field-tested, internationally experienced, technically advanced, and capable of helping Africa build safer tunnels, stronger dams, more reliable roads, and better geotechnical systems through local expertise and global-standard engineering practice.
Expertise
Specialties
Projects & Contributions
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Polihali Transfer Tunnel Project – Lesotho Highlands Water Project
Serves as Senior Tunnel Engineering Geologist with SMEC South Africa Lesotho on the Polihali Transfer Tunnel Project, part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, one of Africa’s largest water transfer schemes. The project includes a 38 km TBM tunnel and an 8 km drill-and-blast NATM tunnel, requiring advanced tunnel geology, geotechnical interpretation, support recommendations, and construction-stage technical decision-making. -
Katse Lake Tap Subsurface Investigation and Tunnel Geology Leadership
Led geology team activities and oversaw subsurface investigations for the technically complex Katse lake tap, a below-water-level tunnelling section in a dam basin. His work included barge drilling, geological logging, data interpretation, geotechnical assessment, excavation recommendations, probe drilling, grouting support, and tunnel risk management. -
TBM and Drill-and-Blast NATM Tunnel Geotechnical Assessment
Conducts geological and geotechnical assessments for TBM and drill-and-blast NATM tunnel excavations, shafts and slopes, providing expert recommendations on excavation methods, support systems, grouting, probe drilling, rock mass behaviour and construction safety. -
Advanced Geotechnical Software and Tunnel Instrumentation Application
Applies advanced geotechnical tools and instrumentation including ShapeMetrix, DIBIT, Unwedge, DIPS, Swedge, Phase2 / RS2 and in-situ tunnel instrumentation to evaluate rock mass conditions, support tunnel excavation, and improve geotechnical decision-making. -
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam – Materials Engineering and QA/QC
Served as Senior Materials Engineer on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Project with Salini-Impregilo, overseeing laboratory and site quality control for Africa’s largest hydroelectric project. His work covered aggregates, cement, conventional vibrated concrete, roller-compacted concrete, ASTM, ACI, AASHTO standards, ISO documentation, and quality control plan compliance. -
GERD RCC Dam and Concrete-Faced Rockfill Saddle Dam
Contributed to QA/QC and workmanship control for the 1.8 km long, 145 m high RCC main dam and the 5.2 km long, 50 m high concrete-faced rockfill saddle dam at GERD, as well as permanent bridges and airstrip construction. -
Gibe II Hydroelectric Tunnel Project – 26 km TBM Tunnel
Worked as Senior Engineering Geologist on the Gibe II Hydroelectric Tunnel Project, contributing to geological, geomechanical and hydrogeological activities for a 26 km TBM tunnel, including rock mass assessment, tunnel mapping, classification and instrumentation. -
Gibe III Hydroelectric Project – 245 m RCC Dam and Tunnels
Contributed to engineering geology and geotechnical work on the Gibe III Hydroelectric Project, including the 245 m high RCC gravity dam, dam foundation, powerhouse, drill-and-blast tunnels, rock mass classification, slope stabilization and remedial works. -
Rock Mass Classification and Stability Assessment
Applied RMR, GSI, Q-System and SMR classification systems for tunnel, dam, slope and foundation stability evaluation, supporting safer excavation, support design, remedial works and construction decisions in complex geological conditions. -
Dam Foundation Permeability and In-Situ Testing
Conducted and supported specialized geotechnical tests including Lugeon permeability testing for dam foundation watertightness, in-situ stress and deformation measurements using dilatometer and flat jack methods, and monitoring through MPBX extensometers, load cells and 3D Bi-reflex targets. -
Slope Stabilization and Remedial Geotechnical Works
Managed and supported stabilization works for rock slopes using anchor bolts, shotcrete and drainage measures, contributing to slope safety, infrastructure protection and reduction of geotechnical risk during construction. -
CCCC Highway Consultants – Geotechnical, Pavement and Materials Design
Served as Senior Geotechnical, Pavement and Materials Engineer with CCCC Highway Consultants East Africa Branch Office, providing specialized geotechnical and materials design for road, bridge and service base projects across Africa. -
7th Axial Road / Lekki Port Access Road – Nigeria
Contributed to geotechnical and pavement/materials design for the 7th Axial Road, Lekki Port Access Road in Nigeria, supporting strategic port access infrastructure through road geotechnics, pavement design and materials engineering. -
Service Base Project of Abidjan – Côte d’Ivoire
Provided geotechnical and materials design support for the Service Base Project of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire, contributing to infrastructure design, materials assessment and technical engineering delivery in West Africa. -
Bahirdar Abay River Bridge – Ethiopia
Contributed to geotechnical and pavement/materials design for the 380 m long extradosed cable-stayed Bahirdar Abay River Bridge in Ethiopia, supporting a major bridge infrastructure project through geotechnical and materials engineering expertise. -
Wenchi-Dendi Ecotourism Road Network Design and Build Project
Contributed to the Wenchi-Dendi Ecotourism Road Network Design and Build Project, later recognized internationally as a major road infrastructure project, supporting road geotechnics, pavement and materials engineering. -
Registered Professional Materials Engineer – PME/98
Registered as Professional Materials Engineer PME/98 by the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development, reflecting recognized competence in materials engineering, quality control, pavement materials and construction materials testing. -
ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management and Construction Contract Capacity
Completed ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Development and Implementation training, construction law and construction contract management training, strengthening his ability to connect geotechnical engineering with quality systems, contracts and project delivery. -
Modern Technical Training in Slope Engineering, AI and R Programming
Completed professional development in slope engineering, data analysis with R programming, artificial intelligence fundamentals, deep foundation testing, tunnel construction practices, and discrete fracture network-based wedge evaluation, strengthening his modern analytical and geotechnical capacity. -
Future Contribution: African Tunnel Engineering and Geotechnical Excellence
Aims to advance tunnel engineering in Africa by developing specialized tunnelling design and construction capacity in Ethiopia and the region, promoting modern tunnelling technologies, strengthening local geotechnical expertise, and supporting safe, sustainable and technically sound infrastructure development.