Water Minister Mr Dave Kelly announced that extra-large steel water pipes will be produced in Western Australia for the first time, under a new AUD 58 million Water Corporation contract. The contract with Steel Mains will see 1,600mm diameter water pipes manufactured in Kwinana rather than at their plant in Victoria, eliminating previous supply chain risks and significant freight costs, while also eliminating the emissions that would be created by transporting the pipe across the country.The first locally produced extra-large pipe will roll off the production floor in 2024 and be used during construction of the new Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant to convey water from the plant into the network. Using 1,600mm diameter pipes at ASDP will reduce the amount of energy needed to pump water, lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 21% compared to the use of smaller pipes.Steel Mains traces its history back more than 140 years in WA and its forerunner supplied the steel pipe used in the construction of the Golden Pipeline from Mundaring Weir to the Goldfields. The Australian-owned firm has operated in Kwinana since the 1960s and already supplies Water Corporation with high quality, locally manufactured steel pipe in smaller sizes. The extended contract will allow the company to invest in tooling upgrades to its Kwinana factory, helping secure around 70 direct jobs.The pipe will be produced using Australian steel with iron ore from the Pilbara and lined with cement from Cockburn Cement in Kwinana. Each 12 metre-long section of the 1,600mm pipe weighs around nine tonnes and has an expected lifespan of around 120 years.
Water Minister Mr Dave Kelly announced that extra-large steel water pipes will be produced in Western Australia for the first time, under a new AUD 58 million Water Corporation contract. The contract with Steel Mains will see 1,600mm diameter water pipes manufactured in Kwinana rather than at their plant in Victoria, eliminating previous supply chain risks and significant freight costs, while also eliminating the emissions that would be created by transporting the pipe across the country.The first locally produced extra-large pipe will roll off the production floor in 2024 and be used during construction of the new Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant to convey water from the plant into the network. Using 1,600mm diameter pipes at ASDP will reduce the amount of energy needed to pump water, lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 21% compared to the use of smaller pipes.Steel Mains traces its history back more than 140 years in WA and its forerunner supplied the steel pipe used in the construction of the Golden Pipeline from Mundaring Weir to the Goldfields. The Australian-owned firm has operated in Kwinana since the 1960s and already supplies Water Corporation with high quality, locally manufactured steel pipe in smaller sizes. The extended contract will allow the company to invest in tooling upgrades to its Kwinana factory, helping secure around 70 direct jobs.The pipe will be produced using Australian steel with iron ore from the Pilbara and lined with cement from Cockburn Cement in Kwinana. Each 12 metre-long section of the 1,600mm pipe weighs around nine tonnes and has an expected lifespan of around 120 years.
