Mongolia: Drinking water supply rehabilitation with the help of Austrian technology

Ulaanbaatar’s drinking water network is being rehabilitated using close-fit and pipe lining technology This undertaking is a soft-loan project that Austrian RTi Rohrtechnik Gruppe is currently implementing in Mongolia.

Approximately half of Mongolia’s entire population – some 1.3 million people – live in its capital Ulaanbaatar. Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia’s economic, cultural and social centre. Like in every other big city, a reliable drinking water supply is a crucial factor in the population’s health and the functioning of society as such.

 

SOFT-LOAN PROJECT GETS STARTED

In the framework of a comprehensive soft-loan project considering several levels of government RTi Austria GmbH was commissioned to supply Ulaanbaatar’s Waterworks (USUG) with systems and materials to renovate the public water supply network. The project aims at putting Ulaanbaatar’s Waterworks in the position of being able to implement pipeline rehabilitation work themselves in the future, backed by technical support from the RTi Group. All equipment was already dispatched in 2018. This not only included rehabilitation systems for the CIPP and close-fit method but also TV camera systems, cleaning systems and milling robots. Austrian producer AGRU Kunststofftechnik delivered close-fit liners to the construction site in ready-to-use coil form. Thus a folded and PE pipe strand reduced in diameter – the so-called AGRU SureFit Liner – can be pulled into the existing pipe without requiring laborious earthwork.

 

TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS

NordiTube Technologies SE, a subsidiary of the RTi Group, was responsible for the systems’ configuration. Of course, NordiTube incorporated the special requirements of the Ulaanbaatar Waterworks to offer an optimal solution. Overall, a complete pipe lining rehabilitation system with an impregnation system, steam heating system and inversion drum as well as a PE close-fit installation system, a mobile milling robot, a high-pressure cleaning system and an inspection vehicle with a TV camera system was produced.

A few partner companies were also involved in this project. The inspection unit was equipped with a camera solution provided by iPEK. To take care of milling work a complete robot system supplied by SCHWALM was utilised. When it comes to the PE close-fit solution an AGRU liner will be used on site.

 

INITIAL STEPS OF IMPLEMENTATION

In order to guarantee successful implementation and trouble-free know-how transfer, RTi provided intensive training courses. As early as April of last year some representatives of the Ulaanbaatar Waterworks were trained in Austria by NordiTube Technologies SE staff as well as RTi Austria GmbH. Cooperation between the Austrian and Mongolian representatives was perfect.

 

8,000 KM ON THE TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY

Following this time of training, it was time to ship the entire fleet of high-tech rehabilitation systems to Mongolia.

The convoy consisting of a total of five vehicles was facing a spectacular journey of more than 8,000 km on land. It crossed a total of four countries and used the world’s longest railway line – the Trans-Siberian Railway – to cross all of Russia.

 

OPENING CEREMONY IN ULAANBAATAR

Following the systems’ successful transport the rehabilitation systems were started up on-site in Ulaanbaatar for the first time. For this momentous occasion, the City of Ulaanbaatar invited important representatives from the economy and politics to a magnificent opening ceremony which was also attended by Christian Hartl, Managing Partner of NordiTue Technologies SE as well as Manfred Sieghartsleitner, Managing Partner at RTi Austria GmbH. A 200-m-long DN 150 mm close-fit liner supplied by AGRU was installed in the course of the festivities. In the autumn of 2018, another 800 m of PE close-fit liner were installed in the course of training and know-how transfer.

 

REHABILITATION GETS UNDERWAY IN MONGOLIA

Once the harsh Mongolian winter is over rehabilitation work will be resumed in the spring of 2019. Of course, RTi will continue to support the Ulaanbaatar Waterworks with the first projects on site.

The Ulaanbaatar Waterworks and the RTi team are looking forward to the coming rehabilitation projects in the Mongolian capital.

 

BOOSTING THE AUSTRIAN MARKET –  NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR MONGOLIA

The soft-loan project pipeline rehabilitation specialist RTi fought for and obtained significantly contributes to the Austrian value-creation chain. At least half of all supplies and services must be provided by domestic companies. This means that, apart from RTi, this large-scale project also benefits many domestic suppliers and their staff.

Additionally, this project makes a significant contribution to sustainable infrastructure development in Mongolia and promotes active climate and environmental protection. Trenchless rehabilitation stands out by avoiding traffic obstructions, low stress for neighbouring residents as well as reducing CO2 emissions.

This makes the project an all-round success!