IG Drones has announced that it has won the contract for an important pipeline inspection. The thermal power plant has awarded a two-year contract for drone surveillance of the MUW pipe system. On February 3, PM Modi dedicated the NTPC Darlipali Super Thermal Power Station (2×800 MW) to the country.
What are MUW Pipes?
Because of its special qualities and advantages, MUW (Medium and Ultra High Molecular Weight) pipes are frequently utilized in a variety of industries, including power producing facilities like NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation). One of NTPC Limited’s coal-fired power plants is Darlipali Station. According to the project specifications, water would be supplied from the Hirakund Reservoir on the Mahanadi River via a pipeline more than 30.0 km from the project site, and coal will be procured from the Dulanga and Pakri Barwadih Coal Block.
Criticalities of MUW Pipes and the Need for 24×7 Surveillance
Research indicates that a 1% leak in a 20-inch pipeline might cause irreversible damage to up to 10 square kilometers and result in a loss of 450,000 barrels annually.
Therefore, it is crucial to take the necessary precautions to guarantee the dependability and caliber of the field pipelines. Drones can inspect pipelines with an 80% boost in efficiency. Given the variety of applications for drones, it is imperative that a rising country like India take the lead and utilize them fully. IG Drones’ sophisticated analytics, combined with the data gathered by the drones, aid in spotting problems and taking prompt action.
Commenting on the development, Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, Founder & CEO- IG Drones said, “We are excited to partner with NTPC for this project where we will be using our state-of-the-art drone technology. We will be providing Watch and Ward services and drone surveillance for the MUW piping system at NTPC Darlipali for two years. This is yet another feather in our cap after securing a procurement order from the Ministry of Defence to provide drones for surveillance projects.We are here to lead India’s journey to be the Global Drone Superpower with Made-In-India technology. We also aim to bolster drone infrastructure and research in the country by establishing drone centers of excellence, with our latest CoE at IIM Sambalpur.”
It is pertinent to note that IG Drones has previously worked with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. on a project involving pipeline inspections of a similar nature. The business completed the transaction via the Government e Marketplace (GeM), a national public procurement portal that is owned entirely by the government. The initiative will get underway in April 2024.
IG Drones CoEs Leveraging Opportunities
In order to provide India’s youth with cutting-edge drone technology, IG Drones has created more than 15 Centers of Excellence (CoE) throughout the country. The company hopes to construct 1000 CoE in total. In order to provide a wide range of drone-related services, the company has strategically partnered with numerous state governments, over 100 Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and top multinational corporations (MNCs).
The NTPC Darlipali Thermal Power Station is in Odisha.
