Project background

Hami (Kumul) sits in eastern Xinjiang, on the edge of the Gobi Desert. The Weiya mining area, about 200 km east of Hami city, is one of the region's major iron-ore and polymetallic production zones. Mining operations there need a continuous, large-volume water supply for ore processing, dust control and worker accommodation.

The existing water source was a mix of local wells with fluctuating yield. The new project connects the upgraded Hami Eastern Second Palace water plant to the Weiya mining area through a dedicated trunk pipeline, about 78 km long, supplying roughly 12,000 cubic meters per day.

The terrain is challenging: desert scrub, dry riverbeds, summer ground temperatures above 45 C, winter lows below –25 C, and groundwater that is moderately saline in sections. The pipeline runs mostly above farmland and uninhabited Gobi, so any failure means a long, expensive repair with heavy equipment.

The challenge

The design team had four specific concerns that eliminated standard pipe options:

1. Long-distance transmission means high static pressure in the low-lying sections, so the pipe body and joints had to handle sustained pressure without leakage over decades.
2. The raw water is moderately mineralized and, in sections, slightly aggressive toward ordinary steel and cement pipe. Internal corrosion would reduce flow and shorten service life.
3. External soil is alkaline and, near dry riverbeds, periodically wet — a classic corrosion combination that quickly damages galvanized or bare steel.
4. The climate swings from desert heat to deep freeze. Coating and joint materials had to stay flexible at –30 C and stable at +60 C surface temperature.

The original specification had considered ductile iron pipe for the whole line, but the EPC contractor re-tendered after comparing total life-cycle cost. That is where Kaiyide came in.

Why they chose Kaiyide

After a factory audit in Tianjin and a review of our test reports, the EPC contractor chose our internal/external plastic-coated (EP/PE) steel pipe for the trunk line. The deciding factors were:

- Internal epoxy (EP) lining is certified for drinking-water contact and resists both scaling and mineralized raw water, which directly addressed the corrosion concern.
- External polyethylene (PE) coating provides continuous external protection against alkaline Gobi soil and periodic wetting.
- Our pipe is manufactured under CJ/T 120 and GB/T 28897 standards, with batch hydraulic testing at 5.0 MPa and zero leakage — proven on long transmission lines already.
- As a steel pipe with welded or socket joints, the pipe body is stronger than ductile iron against ground movement and heavy truck traffic crossing the corridor.
- Tianjin factory supply meant the full size range (DN300–DN700) was manufactured to one specification, one inspection standard and one delivery schedule.

What we supplied

For the Hami-to-WeiYa water project we delivered:

- Internal/external plastic-coated steel pipe, DN300, DN500 and DN700, for the main transmission trunk.
- Socket-type (grooved) and welded joint options, selected by section based on ground condition.
- Matching bends, reducers and tees, coated internally and externally with the same system as the straight pipe.
- Field joint coating kits (heat-shrink sleeves and liquid epoxy) for on-site repair and joint work.

Total delivery ran across twelve batches over five months, shipped by rail and road to the Hami staging yard. Our technical engineer flew to the site for the first two sections, trained the installation crews on joint coating and backfill, and visited again at the hydro-test stage.

Installation notes

Long-distance desert pipeline installation has its own rules:

- The trench was dug on a graded alignment, with sand bedding under the pipe to distribute load and avoid coating damage on sharp stones.
- Every joint was coated immediately after welding and inspected before backfill.
- In river-crossing sections the pipe was wrapped in additional protective tape and buried below scour depth.
- Each section was hydro-tested at design pressure before backfilling, and a second pressure check was run one week after backfill.
- Air-release valves were installed at high points and drain valves at low points, as the alignment demanded.

Result

The pipeline was put into service in late 2025. The Weiya mining area has had a stable water supply since then, with no reported leaks in the first year of operation. The mine operator has since asked us to quote two extension branches for new ore-processing lines.

For Kaiyide, this project is one of the most remote and demanding we have supplied. A 78 km line through the Gobi, with desert heat, winter freeze and mineralized water, is a real-world endurance test for coated steel pipe. The fact that it has performed without issue is a stronger argument than any catalogue specification.

What this means for overseas buyers

If you are a water utility, mining operator or EPC contractor working on long-distance transmission, mine water supply or agricultural transfer projects, the same specification is available for export:

- Internal/external EP/PE coated pipe, DN25–DN1800, for raw water, potable water, reclaimed water and slurry service.
- 3PE external coating for gas, oil or highly aggressive soil conditions.
- Socket-welded or flanged joints to match your site and pressure class.
- Full batch test reports, drinking-water safety license, and third-party inspection from CCS, SGS or equivalent.
- Live video factory tour before order, and container-loading photographs before departure.

Send us your pipe diameter, design pressure, water quality (raw / potable / reclaimed), terrain summary and quantity, and we will reply within 24 hours with a quotation and sample test reports.