The Durban to Gauteng Pipeline project consists of the construction of two multi-product pipelines, a 24inch diameter mainline of 544 km between Durban and Johannesburg, and a secondary 16 inch diameter line of 160 km in the region surrounding Johannesburg.

The project is expected to relieve capacity constraints on South Africa’s petroleum supply chain, and will replace and expand the current Durban to Johannesburg Pipeline, which transports refined petroleum products from two refineries in Durban, as well as imported refined products.

The pipeline, expected to reach completion in December 2011, is being constructed by a joint venture between France’s Spie Capag and South Africa’s Group Five.

Spie Capag has subcontracted Allu to provide a number of screening bucket attachments to backfill soil into the pipeline trench.

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Allu buckets recycle the excavated trench soil for padding and backfilling, minimising the material exported and imported from the construction site. This reduces the number of truck movements to and from the work site, decreasing both the environmental and CO2 impact of the project. Health and safety concerns are also lowered with the reduction of vehicle movements on the site.

The minimised vehicle movements and lower import/export rate of materials means that pipeline construction companies can also benefit financially from recycling the soil from the trench.

Spie Capag has subcontracted Allu to provide screening buckets on various projects since 2002, and the relationship between the two companies continues to develop.