Joburg-Durban pipeline continues

The project, when completed, will be the largest of its kind in the world and is meant to ensure the security of South Africa’s fuel supply while easing traffic congestion on one of the continent’s most heavily travelled roadways.

The pipeline is the biggest component of Transnet’s
R-93 billion, five-year capital expenditure plan.  Construction is expected to be completed by
late 2013.

There is an existing pipeline between Johannesburg and
Durban, but the current structure is rapidly aging and is unable to handle
increased demand caused by the region’s ongoing urbanisation.

Once the pipeline is up and running at full capacity,
Transnet says it will help reduce the number of fuel tankers on the road by at
least 60 per cent, will help lower highway maintenance costs, and will
significantly ease traffic congestion along the Johannesburg-Durban route.

Experts agree that this kind of multi-purpose,
multi-product pipeline is the most cost effective, efficient, and safest way to
transport petroleum products between locations.

A complex undertaking

Transnet was awarded the contract by the National
Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) in December 2007. The original project included the license to
construct the pipeline, a 16-inch inland network, and two fuel terminals.

Recently, Transnet requested an amendment to the
original NERSA construction license to allow for issues that have arisen as a
result of the project. The pipeline was
originally set to be fully operational by December 2012, but setbacks have
pushed its completion out at least a year.

The relocation of coastal terminals from the former
site of the Durban International Airport to Island View in the Port of Durban
has caused some delays, as have longer-than-expected waits for statutory
approvals on various phases of the project.

The [pipeline] is the largest multi-product pipeline in the world and
will have a lifespan of over 70 years

The relocation of the terminals also resulted in an 11
km increase in the total span of the pipeline, which also impacted the
hydraulics system and necessitated a design adjustment.

“Such revisions are common in projects of this
complexity, uniqueness and size,” said Chris Wells, acting CEO of Transnet. “The [pipeline], whose construction is about
33 percent complete, is the largest multi-product pipeline in the world and
will have a lifespan of over 70 years.”

New technology aids construction

GE South Africa Technologies was recently approved to
supply Transnet with nearly a dozen medium-speed diesel generators to aid the
construction of the pipeline.

The generators offer a combined total capacity of
about 34MW of electrical power output. 
They will help provide an emergency power supply to pump stations and
terminals along the pipeline.

“GE South Africa Technologies played an integral part
in preparing for some of the project’s key deliverables with some of the best
delivery schedules available on a global level,” pipeline procurement manager
Jaco de Vries said.

The generators underwent rigorous factory testing
earlier this year, and are set to be fully operational along the pipeline by
year’s end.