Delta Obstruction Lighting (DOL) has exploded onto the Egyptian energy scene with a contract to
illuminate two 150m plus cooling towers at the country’s newest power station – currently
under construction. But it is an explosion it will be preventing at Cairo West Power Plant – just
outside the Egyptian capital – as its lighting solution will ward off incoming aircraft for years to
come.
“We are delighted to be working on such a high profile job as Cairo West. Despite having little
experience in Egypt we have proved on numerous occasions that we can install aircraft warning
systems at short notice, anywhere in the world,” said DOL managing director, Tariq Mukhtar.
The company was referred to Cairo West Chief Contractors, KEPCO by associate company,
James Walker Townson, which has worked closely with DOL on a number of high profile UK
jobs. On JWT’s advice KEPCO decided to dispatch a representative to Delta HQ in Oldham and
during a lightning quick visit to meet Delta representatives and tour the Wrigley Street factory he
saw enough to award the contract on his return to Egypt.
“In this game there are no referrals without good service so we pride ourselves on our unique
aptitude for complex scenarios, customised solutions, premium grade products and all round
reliability and service. In the rare case of someone being unhappy with our service we will do
everything in our power to put it right. This is why we gain so many referrals, this is why we won
the Cairo West contract and this is why we continue to develop,” added Tariq.
Situated on the West Bank of the Nile just 12.5km from downtown Cairo, the site for the Cairo
West 700MW Thermal Power Plant was chosen because it has close proximity to water and fuel
as well as major consumption centres. When finished in 2011, it will supply a large section of
Egypt’s capital city with the vital energy it needs to function within the national and global
economy.
Whilst that fact may be taken for granted by energy users, energy experts know all too well the
effect of a sudden station shutdown and work tirelessly to reduce the risk of that happening. Due
to Cairo West’s huge cooling towers, incoming aircraft to nearby Cairo International Airport are a major danger, made greater by Cairo’s incredible population density. To overcome it KEPCO
issued a brief to illuminate the power plant’s towers in a way that would not only meet
international civil aviation regulations but exceed them.
With over 30 years in the business, Delta Obstruction Lighting has developed a portfolio of unique
and efficient LED lighting products which exceed international, civil and federal aviation
authority requirements. The use of an LED array creates a long lasting light unit that is easily
assembled and operated. All units are designed to be compact, efficient and safe. With low
maintenance requirements, these long lasting LED lights can operate individually to avoid
complete light failure.
After much deliberation DOL proposed a lighting system equipping each tower with 24 lights – 48
in total. Each tower would house:
- Eight Delta designed low intensity WL75s – a weatherproof aviation obstruction light with
highly reliable LED banks known for supreme energy efficiency. With more than 100,000
burning hours, the light’s high quality aviation red colour eliminates the need for
additional colour filters - Eight Delta designed medium intensity WL2500s – using less than 50W of power the
beacon, which incorporates state of the art LEDs into an efficient optical design, lasts for
up to ten years, saves light wastage with a tight beam, and can be either flashed or
steady burned - Eight high intensity WL99s (sourced from outside) – a unidirectional white flashing strobe light
designed to provide 120 degree horizontal with narrow vertical beam pattern. Made from
stainless steel, it contains an automatic day / twilight / night light intensity adjustor and is
capable of flash synchronisation
Each tower will be split into four levels with level one at the top 150m above ground level and the
other three levels at 40m intervals from there down. On levels one and three, four WL99s will alternate
with four WL2500s at 45 degree intervals. On levels two and four, four WL75s will be fixed at 90
degree intervals.
To ensure their correct operation, all the lights will be monitored by GSM communicators from a
central control facility. The lights will be designed at Delta Obstruction Lighting’s Wrigley Street
factory in Oldham and installed by sister company Delta International Steeplejacks (DSJ) – one of
the most experienced companies in the world at high altitude installation.
DOL’s proposal was subsequently approved by KEPCO and the lights have since been designed,
manufactured and shipped via Felixstowe to Egypt.