Horizontal Directional Drilling
One of the newer technologies utilised on the project is Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), whereby the longest HDD drill in this country to date was completed. A distance of approximately 1.5km was drilled under one of Gauteng’s busy highways, Uncle Charlie’s, at a depth of approximately 18m.
Pipeline Power Facts
12 000: the number of jobs created during construction
555 km: length of the trunk line from Durban to Gauteng
3 million: volume of litres to be pumped per hour once complete
95: the number of wetlands the NMPP cuts through
1.5km: depth of distance drilled under a busy Gauteng highway
49: the number of main rivers the NMPP crosses
Safety and Security Features
Designed according to international design codes and standards for Petroleum Process plants, the pipeline enjoys the following enhanced safety features:
World-class thres-layer hot-applied polyethylene over fusion-bonded epoxy coating system
Remotely monitored Cathodic Protection systems
State-of-the-art leak detection with continuous real-time monitoring via fibre optic communications
Automated leak isolation via motorised block valves with activation links to emergency response services
Best-in-class accumulated tank emissions control via geodesic dome roof design, double-seal internal floating blankets and internal epoxy-lined surfaces
Sophisticated security monitoring and security access control systems
A 1-in-50-year storm design as well as on-site contaminated waste water containment and
Sophisticated unmanned automated operations and process control