Energas supplies mobile heater skid for commissioning of natural gas pipeline
March 2017
News
Energas Technologies has completed a commission by VGI Consulting Africa, on behalf of Sasol Group Technology, to design and supply a mobile heater skid to a budgeted $210 M pipeline expansion project. The additional 128 km of pipeline sees an increase in transport capacity of high pressure natural gas between Mozambique and South Africa.
The existing 865 km Mozambique Secunda Pipeline (MSP) is currently the only sustainable source of natural gas supply to South Africa, and, in order to meet the demand for increased consumption, the transport capacity of this line was significantly increased. In order to facilitate this, a combination of compressors and parallel lines – approximately 128 km per section – had to be built.
With the backing of a successful first project, Loop Line 1 (LL1), Sasol Group Technology appointed VGI Consulting Africa as the EPCM contractor for LL2.
For the commissioning of LL2, the new line had to be filled and pressurised to 116 bar. The filling gas had to be preheated to ensure the temperature did not drop below the pipeline minimum design metal temperature. This called for the design, manufacture and supply of a transportable skid-mounted electrical gas heater with flow control in accordance with ASME 31.8, ASME VIII and SANS 10108. Design, fabrication, complete assembly and testing of the heater skid were done in South Africa before delivery to site in Mozambique.
Laetitia Botha, Energas Technologies’ product engineer comments, “Energas specialises in the design, manufacturing and supply of skid-mounted pressure reduction and metering stations to the natural gas industry. Most of these skids are for sites in remote areas and being able to complete the fabrication and assembly in South Africa reduces schedule risk, site establishment and workforce logistics significantly. Another benefit of the mobile heater skid is that it can be relocated and used at different site points or locations as the new pipeline sections were being constructed. It’s a cost-effective solution that can be relocated as and when needed.
“The natural gas industry in Africa is growing and has a bright future ahead. We have directly felt the effects of this growth in the range of skid manufacturing projects on the go in Ghana, the Western Cape and now Mozambique.”
For more information contact Laetitia Botha, Energas Technologies, +27 (0)11 397 6809, [email protected], www.energas.co.za
Further reading:
Africa’s industrial future is still being written
News
Bosch Rexroth Africa marks 60 years on the continent, reflecting on the value of local capability, training and partnerships in driving the next phase of African industrial growth.
Read more...
Women belong at the heart of mining engineering
News
Dr Adwoa Boaduo, group head of safety at Rosond, sees an opportunity to challenge outdated perceptions about women in mining and engineering.
Read more...
WearCheck demonstrates advanced condition monitoring at Electra Mining
Wearcheck
News
Condition monitoring specialist WearCheck will demonstrate its used-oil analysis, fuel analysis, transformer chemistry and asset reliability services at Electra Mining Africa as the company marks 50 years of predictive maintenance expertise.
Read more...
Endress+Hauser to showcase measurement and automation solutions at Electra Mining
Endress+Hauser South Africa
News
Endress+Hauser will demonstrate process automation, measurement technology and digital transformation solutions at Electra Mining Africa 2026, with interactive displays and expert guidance for mining, minerals, water and wastewater industries.
Read more...
ACTOM invests in South Africa’s industrial future
ACTOM Electrical Machines
News
ACTOM has transformed its Pretoria West facility into an integrated manufacturing hub for large power transformers, high-voltage equipment and lithium-ion battery energy storage systems, quadrupling transformer capacity and establishing a complete local energy storage ecosystem.
Read more...
WEG’s technologies at Electra Mining Africa 2026
WEG Africa
News
At Electra Mining Africa 2026, WEG Africa will showcase its top solutions services, and expertise built for the mining sector.
Read more...
SA’s future engineers in action
News
AvenirHoldings sponsors the 2026 SAICE Aqualibrium Schools Competition, supporting young engineering talent across South Africa and Eswatini.
Read more...
Rooibos heads to space in groundbreaking South African STEM initiative
News
Rooibos seeds will be sent to the International Space Station as part of a first-of-its-kind South African initiative combining space-based plant science with hands-on STEM education for learners in the Cederberg region and Cape Town.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Turning the tide
Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
Our last few Sustainable Manufacturing guides have tracked the changes in the energy industry in South Africa. This year, I found that the story has moved on still further.
South Africa’s manufacturing
...
Read more...
Engineering a more inclusive future
News
Women engineers at Zutari are helping shape resilient communities across Africa and the Middle East, while inspiring the next generation to enter the profession in areas ranging from water security to large-scale urban developments.
Read more...