With UAE’s vision to optimize water production, Dutco Tennant LLC has successfully completed the supervision of installation and commissioning of penstocks in a record two-week time in Umm Al Quwain. This ambitious project will meet the ever-growing demand for clean water in the UAE.

In 2016, the plant-based on advanced reserve osmosis technology — was tendered with a capacity of 45 MIGD. However, by early 2019, the tender was amended to 150MIGD capacity and refloated.

Reaching financial closure by March 2020 valued at USD 800 Mn, the construction commenced without wasting any time. The principal project components include a 600m seawater open channel intake, a 3.6 km piped outfall, RO plant and potable water storage tanks. Two intake lines were needed for the plant of 3000mm diameter. The lines were to be installed with penstocks that can be closed for maintenance of pumps upstream.

Since further information on the requirement of penstocks weren’t available, as part of our consultative sales approach we proposed options in terms of design criteria, material of construction and method of operation to the contractor and design team. After a series of discussions with the designers, contractor and Dutco Tennant finalized the product specifications to 02 Nos DN 3000x3000 4 side sealing wall mounted penstocks in Duplex SS 1.4462 grade with electric actuation.

True challenge with this project came thereafter. Europe was ravaged by Covid-19 lockdowns in end-2020 but that didn’t stop production of these penstocks. In close coordination with our partner for special gates, Muhr GmbH, the penstocks were produced within just working 6 weeks amid Europe’s severe pandemic lockdown. Faced with severe material shortages in Europe and unpredictable logistics obstacles, the penstocks were manufactured within the promised schedule. The products were shipped out at a time when booked vessels were being rescheduled by atleast 3-4 weeks in Europe due to the pandemic and the Suez canal blockage in March. In  8 weeks the shipment was delivered to Jebel Ali port and delivered to the site in Umm Al Quwain.

Led by our team of experienced professionals, we successfully completed our scope of supervision of installation and commissioning the penstocks in just 14 days. When the team of Dutco Tennant LLC works, even the impossible becomes possible.