Skip to content

Comprehensive Water Transportation Solution for Urgent Projects

How Pexgol Accelerated the Supply and Installation of a Critical Line.

Case Study Nº

170

Customer

Madagascar Mining
Madagascar

|

2024

Working Conditions

Temperature: 25°C / 77°F | Flow Rate: 300 m³/h | Pressure: 28 bar | Fluid Components: Sand

Pexgol Pipes

Pexgol 280 mm (10″) class 30, 24, 19 & 15

Application

River Water Transportation

Lenght

6 km

Categories

Comprehensive Water Transportation Solution for Urgent Projects

The Challenge

A leading mining operation focused on nickel and cobalt extraction and refining in Madagascar, faced a critical challenge: ensuring a reliable water supply to its pulp plant. This required building a 6-kilometer pipeline from the nearest river to the plant.
Although the project design seemed straightforward, two key challenges emerged:

  1. High Pressure Requirements: With a height difference of 160 meters and friction losses across the 6-kilometer distance, the pipeline needed to withstand pressures of up to 28 bar.
  2. Project Urgency: The plant was running out of water, meaning the project had to be executed quickly — from pipe supply to installation — with limited resources.

The Solution

Pexgol provided an ideal solution for this project by supplying 280 mm (10”) pipes in classes 30, 24, 19, and 15. These pipes were selected due to their ability to handle high pressures, flexibility, and ease of installation. Additionally, they were supplied in long coils of 100, 200, and 300 meters, which significantly reduced the number of required connections.

The fitting system used included electrofusion couplings, flared ends, and loose flanges, ensuring secure and quick connections. Pexgol’s technical support covered the entire process, from design to on-site installation, including training and tools to optimize the project’s execution.

Ambatovy evaluated alternative solutions such as steel flexible pipes with PE coatings but ruled them out due to long delivery times and the need for specialized installation tools. Pexgol proved to be the most efficient and viable solution, providing a fast, tailored response to the client’s needs.

Pexgol’s performance in this project highlights its ability to overcome technical and logistical challenges in demanding conditions.

Related Case Studies

Pan American Energy implements an efficient and sustainable solution for brine transportation.

Fast and Safe Brine Transport in the Salar de Hombre Muerto

Lithos (PAE)
Argentina

 | 

2024
Adapting to the demands of the process: how Pexgol solves the problems of corrosion and abrasion in the extraction of palm oil.

Implementation of Pexgol Pipelines for the Transport of Muddy Water

IACSA
Colombia

 | 

2023
Mining Effluent Transportation in Cuba.

Pexgol Optimizes Tailings Management at Sherritt’s Moa Nickel Mine

Sherritt
Cuba

 | 

2020
Installation of a Pexgol Line for the Transport of Formation Water in an Oil Company.

Replacement of Metal Pipe with PE-X for Formation Water

Enap Sipetrol Ecuador
Ecuador

 | 

2022
Оптимизация дренажа шахт и транспортировки воды с помощью труб Pexgol на руднике Cerro Negro.

Преодоление препятствий при установке и повышение операционной эффективности

Newmont
Аргентина

 | 

2022
Осушение шахты в условиях высокого давления

Осушение шахты — в условиях высокого давления

Antofagasta Minerals, шахта «Михилья»
Чили

 | 

2011