The Paiton construction project is a major $2.5-billion power plant project built near the port of Surabaya on the eastern side of the island of Java in Indonesia.

One of the largest private power projects in Southeast Asia, this 1,230--Megawatt power plant-equipped with two 615-Megawatt coal-fired boilers-- supplies the Indonesian state-owned PLN power utility with electric power under a 30-year contract.

This current project consists of Paiton units 7 and 8 (units 1 and 2 were completed in 1995; units 3,4,5 and 6 are now in planning). The twin units are based on a power plant designed by Burns & Roe Inc., Oradell, NJ, and constructed in the late '70s in Seminole, Florida. Just as Price Brothers provided all the prestressed concrete cylinder pipe for the Seminole plant twenty years ago, our company was also chosen to supply the PCCP for the Paiton cooling system pipework.

The Price Brothers PCCP was supplied to Shinwha Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. of Seoul, Korea, the firm installing the pipework as subcontractor to Toyo Engineering of Japan. The engineering and construction management for the plant's power block is being led by Duke/Fluor Daniel International Services.

All the PCCP straight pipe as well as 110 fittings-ranging in diameters from 42 to 168 inches-were produced by Price Brothers Company in the U.S. and shipped by ocean freighter to the Port of Surabaya. The pipe was then barged to a harbor within 1/4 mile of the lay-down area at the plant site. All the PCCP arrived promptly, in fine condition and ready to install.

Price Brothers engineers were on hand to identify each piece by shipping number and match it with the laying schedule and location in the laydown area. Each piece was moved by truck to the plant site in proper laying sequence for the contractor's convenience. Bruce Weiser, Ron Maybell and Dick Fitch of Price Brothers were also on hand at various times to train the crew.

The crew had no previous experience installing PCCP, but it took them very little time to learn the full procedure. Making the testable bell and spigot joints and air testing each joint as soon as it was completed quickly became "second nature" to the crew. By air testing each joint immediately, the contractor verified it was leak-free before backfilling. All the joints passed on their first test.

The care and discipline of the Indonesian crew and Korean foreman who installed our pipe also impressed me. Each was a "specialist" who did everything necessary to assure the reliable performance of this cooling system for many decades to come.

Price Brothers concrete pressure pipe reducers and elbow fittings form the inlet manifold to bring cooling water from the intake canal into the No. 7 unit's turbine building. The two elbows and pipe in the foreground carry the used water to the discharge canals.