A total of 130 Mozambique farmers are expected to benefit from the privately funded Chinanguanine agricultural irrigation project, completed in November 2012 and handed over by irrigation solutions provider Irritech in February.

Plyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and fitting systems expert DPI Plastics supplied Irritech with 72 km of modified PVC (mPVC) Ultraflo pipes, worth R4-million, for Chinaguanine. The pipes were installed at the project site, about 100 km north of the Mozambique capital, Maputo, in May 2012.

“The Ultraflo range was selected as the piping product of choice owing to its proven record in the market,” states Irritech owner and head irrigation specialist Franek Raciborski.

He says Ultraflo is a high-quality pipe that has been preferred by local contractors for several years and mPVC is an excellent material for irrigation, owing to its durability and ductility.

“The Ultraflo pressure pipe system offers design engineers and contractors numerous advantages, including a lower mass, higher impact resistance and increased hydraulic capacity,” says DPI Plastics technical and product manager Renier Snyman.

He explains that the Ultraflo pipes for this particular project were delivered in standard 6 m lengths and have a Class 6 pressure rating, with superior frictional properties, compared with similar pipes in the market and low wave celerity ensures resistance to surges.

He is confident that the pipes will last more than 50 years.

The pipes, which were delievered to the Chinanguanine project, varied between 63 mm and 500 mm in diameter.

Raciborski notes that Irritech was appointed as the contractor for the project in May 2012 and successfully completed its scope of work within six months.

“Having been a DPI Plastics client for 20 years, I can rely on the company’s professional and responsive approach towards Irritech. The Chinanguanine project was no different. All the piping products were supplied timeously, with support and service offered on a round-the-clock basis.”

“The Ultraflo range of pressure pipes accounts for 90% of the company’s pipe export sales,” says DPI Plastics exports manager Rajesh Naval, adding that mPVC piping has proved popular in the African market.

He attributes this to Ultraflo’s strength, durability and cost effectiveness, which have resulted in combined sales worth more than R35-million in countries such as Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and Angola.

Naval notes that the addition of new large- bore sizes, including 560 mm and 630 mm, will further benefit DPI Plastics export customers, as they currently import these sizes from overseas suppliers or run two pipes parallel to each other to meet large-bore-pipe requirements.