Nuclear

De-Tect Unit Inspection’s origins trace back to some of South Africa’s most significant industrial and energy infrastructure projects. The company was actively involved in construction-phase NDT and inspection services for the Sasol Synfuels plants in Secunda, Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, Africa’s only nuclear power plant, Kendal Power Station Units 5 and 6, as well as the Mossgas onshore refinery and offshore FA platform (now operated as PetroSA).

These projects included pre-service inspections for the nuclear sector, followed by long-term in-service inspection and maintenance programmes. Many of these relationships continue today, including ongoing work at Sasol Synfuels and Koeberg Nuclear Power Station.

De-Tect Unit Inspection was awarded multiple Ultrasonic and Surface Inspection scopes during key outage periods at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, including Outages 207, 108, 208, and 109. The company played a critical role in advanced inspection work, performing manual ultrasonic testing on turbine rotors in collaboration with M.A.N Nürnberg.

During this period, De-Tect also supplied a full team of qualified ultrasonic operators for the first performance demonstration trials conducted in South Africa on austenitic welded samples at Koeberg.

In addition, De-Tect secured contracts with Eskom's Technology, Research and Investigations group to carry out comprehensive manual ultrasonic inspections on waterways and penstocks at the Drakensberg and Palmiet hydroelectric power stations.

De-Tect Unit Inspection was awarded a major contract at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, taking full responsibility for project management and execution of comprehensive inspection scopes. These included manual ultrasonic testing, surface inspections, flow accelerated corrosion assessments, repair and replacement programmes, snubber testing, as well as marine and civil corrosion inspections.

During this period, De-Tect strengthened its strategic position by entering into an association agreement with Rotek Engineering (Pty) Ltd and securing additional contracts for inspection and testing services at Koeberg.

De-Tect also successfully executed the Inspection, NDE, and Testing scopes for Outages 110 and 210 within strict time constraints, achieving exceptionally low radiation exposure levels.

Beyond the nuclear sector, the company completed all ultrasonic inspection work on fabricated components for the Mossgas / Dresser Kellogg (Bredasdorp alliance) E-M field development expansion programme, along with surface inspection work on the R01 module and PLEM structure on the West Coast.

In addition, De-Tect demonstrated innovation by designing and manufacturing a cost-effective ultrasonic manipulator for the inspection of cast riding rings on cement kilns for PPC Cement.

De-Tect Unit Inspection continued to strengthen its role within the power generation sector through the renewal of key inspection and testing contracts at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. These included a broad range of specialised services such as valve testing, pump performance testing, Local Leak Rate Testing (LLRT), helium testing, and Sigar testing.

The company was also awarded a contract by Rotek Engineering (Pty) Ltd to perform turbine inspection scopes at Lethabo Power Station, as well as supporting the half-station shutdown maintenance programme at Duvha Power Station.

In addition to its operational work, De-Tect contributed to industry development by partnering with Cape Technikon to deliver a year-long co-operative education and training programme. This initiative provided final-year engineering students with valuable hands-on, on-site experience in inspection and testing environments.

De-Tect Unit Inspection expanded its capabilities and market reach through a strategic merger with Sonartech, a Gauteng-based company specialising in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), metallurgical analysis, and failure investigations. This merger strengthened De-Tect’s technical expertise and positioned the company to better serve both local and international NDT call-out markets.

During this period, De-Tect successfully completed three outage projects at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and continued to invest in skills development, with trainees completing Phase One Eddy Current training in collaboration with Framatome.

The company also renewed its association agreement with Rotek Engineering (Pty) Ltd for a further three-year period, focusing on the provision of NDT services on turbine components.

In addition, De-Tect contributed to a specialist consulting team investigating fracture and failure mechanisms in three in-service vessels at an international chemical plant. As part of this project, the company successfully implemented Ultrasonic Creep Wave Technology for advanced defect detection.

De-Tect Unit Inspection continued its long-standing relationship with Koeberg Nuclear Power Station through the renewal of contracts for Inspection (NDT) and specialised testing services. These included valve testing, pump performance testing, Local Leak Rate Testing (LLRT), helium testing, and Sigar testing.

The company expanded its regional capabilities with the successful launch of a comprehensive call-out service in the Western Cape, with a strong focus on radiographic inspection services. During this period, De-Tect was also awarded the gamma radiography scope for Koeberg’s Outage 212.

Internally, De-Tect strengthened its organisational structure by developing detailed skills descriptions, competency frameworks, and defined NDT career paths, along with structured remuneration models. This initiative was completed in partnership with Deloitte & Touche.

De-Tect’s commitment to quality was recognised through multiple awards for its contribution to quality performance on the SCC project at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, as well as various smaller projects. The company was also established as a preferred supplier to RH Mechanicals for all SCC-related NDT work.

De-Tect Unit Inspection continued to expand its footprint across multiple industrial sectors, securing an ultrasonic shutdown contract at the Sasol plant in Secunda. The company was recognised for its commitment to skills development, receiving a training excellence award from the South African Institute of Welding for the quality of training and opportunities provided to employees in the NDT field.

Operationally, De-Tect strengthened its regional presence by establishing a site office at Saldanha Steel, delivering comprehensive radiography and wall thickness measurement services across the Western Cape and extending operations up the West Coast into Namibia.

The company successfully completed Outages 113 and 213 at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and delivered an international NDT project at a power station in Homs, Libya, in partnership with Rotek Engineering (Pty) Ltd.

Further reinforcing its commitment to quality, De-Tect achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification (Registration No. LS3305) at the end of 2003.

De-Tect Unit Inspection successfully completed the full ultrasonic and surface inspection scope for Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Outage 114 within the required timeframes, achieving zero incidents and full compliance with quality standards.

The company strengthened its international capabilities by forming a strategic alliance with Oceaneering International, enhancing both high-tech and specialised manual NDT service offerings in South Africa. As part of this collaboration, De-Tect personnel participated in specialised NDT training in the UK and contributed to the successful execution of a petrochemical plant project in the United Kingdom.

De-Tect also played an active role in advancing the industry, participating in the first National NDT Symposium hosted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, where the company presented a paper on improving NDT reliability in South Africa.

In the petrochemical sector, De-Tect was awarded multiple contracts at Sasol’s Clean Fuels “Project Turbo” in Secunda, including the full NDT workshop construction contract and associated NDT services. Additional work included a maintenance shutdown contract at the Caltex Refinery (ChevronTexaco).

Further reinforcing its quality commitment, De-Tect successfully completed its second ISO 9001:2000 audit in August 2004. During this period, De-Tect personnel were also among the first in Africa to undergo specialised ultrasonic training on austenitic materials, conducted by the South African Institute of Welding in conjunction with Koeberg Nuclear Power Station.

De-Tect Unit Inspection continued to deliver high-performance inspection services across multiple sectors, successfully completing the full Ultrasonic, Surface, and Radiography scopes for Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Outage 214. All work was delivered within strict timeframes, with zero incidents and full compliance with quality and safety standards, including the critical SCC pipe replacement radiography scope.

The company further strengthened its technical expertise, with two ultrasonic operators qualifying in Eskom’s Phased Array turbine rotor blade blind trials and becoming preferred operators for this specialised work.

Internationally, De-Tect completed another NDT project in the United Kingdom in collaboration with Oceaneering International, building on the success of previous engagements.

Regionally, the company expanded its footprint by successfully delivering projects at a soda ash plant in Botswana and an ultrasonic inspection project in Madagascar. Additional work included the successful execution of NDT services during the November shutdown at the Caltex Refinery.

De-Tect was also appointed as a preferred NDT supplier to Saldanha Steel (Mittal) and completed the radiography work scope for Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Outage 115.

De-Tect Unit Inspection, in collaboration with Oceaneering Unit Inspection, was recognised with the Contractor of the Year Award (2005/2006) at Sasol Synfuels, standing out among approximately 2,500 suppliers.

The company continued to expand its international and high-profile project portfolio, successfully completing an NDT assignment for Alstom UK, and forming part of the Alstom South Africa team on the Koeberg Unit 1 turbine recovery project. This project included 100% radiographic inspection of all repair and replacement components.

At Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, De-Tect provided personnel for the successful execution of Ultrasonic, Surface, and Radiography scopes during Outage 215, completing all work within strict timeframes, with zero incidents and full compliance with quality and safety requirements.

The company also delivered NDT services across a range of industrial clients, including assignments for Arya Sasol Polymer Company, as well as planned shutdowns at Sasol Synfuels and Mittal Steel.

In the offshore and marine sector, De-Tect successfully deployed advanced LORAD radiography systems (X-ray and gamma) at Belmet Marine for the Subsea 7 project for PetroSA, as well as subsequent work on an ExxonMobil project. These projects included ultrasonic node inspections and surface inspections on subsea modules and piping systems.

De-Tect Unit Inspection was formally established following the successful merger and management buy-out of Unit Inspection SA (formerly Oceaneering Unit Inspection) and De-Tect NDT Services. This strategic consolidation, alongside Cooperheat Africa, positioned the company as one of Africa’s leading specialist BEE inspection service providers.

The company received multiple recognitions for service excellence, including a certificate from Sasol Synfuels for outstanding performance and consistently achieving an average supplier scorecard rating of 99.8%. De-Tect was also awarded an excellence award by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology for its contribution to experiential learning programmes.

De-Tect strengthened its industry standing by attaining full membership of the South African Oil & Gas Alliance, as well as achieving multi-site ISO 9001:2000 certification and retaining South African National Accreditation System accreditation as a government-approved inspection authority.

Operationally, the company delivered a range of high-profile projects, including automated ultrasonic testing (AUT) interpretation for final pipeline laying operations on the South Coast Gas Development project. De-Tect also successfully completed shutdown work at Sasol Synfuels and Outage 116 at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station.

The Koeberg outage scope included in-service inspection (ISI) radiography, notably the 10-year steam generator bimetallic inspections for Westinghouse Electric Company. De-Tect personnel also formed part of specialised teams supporting complex ultrasonic inspections, reactor head replacement projects for Lesedi Nuclear Services (an AREVA NP company), and other advanced nuclear operations.

In addition, the company successfully delivered multiple specialised inspection projects utilising guided wave ultrasonic technology and phased array techniques, and provided ongoing X-ray and radiography services under long-term contract arrangements.

De-Tect Unit Inspection became part of an international inspection group, the CRC Evans Inspection Group, expanding its global footprint and access to specialised inspection capabilities. This group included PIH Services Middle East (headquartered in Dubai) and Universal Inspection Systems (UNISPEC), based in Scotland with further expansion into Houston, USA.

The company maintained its South African National Accreditation System accreditation as a government-approved inspection authority and achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification. During this period, De-Tect also strengthened its BEE rating through focused socio-economic development and enterprise initiatives.

De-Tect secured long-term contracts for in-service maintenance across both nuclear and conventional power generation facilities, as well as petrochemical plants. The company successfully executed multiple major outages and shutdowns, with a strong emphasis on utilising and developing local personnel.

A key focus area during this time was skills development, with extensive training aligned to ISO 9712 standards, alongside continued investment in safety performance and human reliability.

De-Tect Unit Inspection marked a significant milestone, celebrating 30 years of delivering Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and inspection services in South Africa.

The company successfully completed NDT work during Outage 118 at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (KNPS) between August and October 2010, continuing its strong track record in the nuclear sector.

From 2010 onward, De-Tect secured and maintained long-term service relationships across multiple key clients and industries. This included ongoing NDT services for RH Mechanicals at KNPS, supporting Balance of Plant (BOP) projects, as well as continued involvement in outage and maintenance work under radiography (RT) contracts through to 2016.

De-Tect also provided NDT services for GEA Africa on pressure vessels and related projects, including maintenance and breakdown support, and delivered inspection services for Mittal Saldanha during shutdowns and operational maintenance between 2010 and 2016.

De-Tect Unit Inspection continued to deliver specialised NDT services within the power generation sector, performing surface inspection services at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station from May to November 2011.

The company strengthened its long-term presence in Eskom’s fleet by securing a four-year contract at Grootvlei Power Station for NDT services during outages and maintenance. This relationship was later reaffirmed with the re-award of the Grootvlei contract in 2019 (under Stanley Inspection South Africa) for a further 36-month period.

De-Tect also supported major industrial and power projects across South Africa, including NDT services for Kentz on the 10th SASOL reactor, covering radiographic, magnetic particle, penetrant, and ultrasonic testing (RT, MT, PT, UT).

Additional project work included inspection services at Kusile Power Station (Concor), involving MT, PT, UT, and Phased Array (PAUT), as well as NDT services for Kentz at Komatipoort, covering RT, MT, and PT scopes.

De-Tect Unit Inspection continued its involvement in critical nuclear infrastructure projects, delivering NDT services for Group 5 at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station as part of the PTR tank replacement project (Contract No. 4600049903). This long-term project extended through to 2018 and reinforced the company’s expertise in high-integrity nuclear work.

The company further strengthened its commitment to safety and environmental responsibility, with its Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Management System achieving ISO 14001:2015 accreditation.

In the petrochemical sector, De-Tect was awarded a contract by Sasol for the provision of advanced Phased Array ultrasonic testing services over a 12-month period.

De-Tect Unit Inspection continued to deliver specialised NDT services across multiple sectors, including supporting a major turnaround at a Chevron facility in 2017.

The company secured a contract at Matla Power Station under Stanley Inspection South Africa for the provision of NDT services during maintenance and outage activities over a 12-month period, further strengthening its presence within Eskom’s power generation fleet.

De-Tect also delivered targeted inspection services for Sulzer at Ankerlig Power Station, performing ultrasonic and penetrant testing on critical components.

In the water and hydroelectric sector, the company successfully completed Non-Destructive Examinations on penstocks at Drakensberg, covering Waterway Units 1–4, under Contract No. 4600064128.

At Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, De-Tect provided administrative and project support services to Westinghouse Electric Company, contributing to ongoing nuclear maintenance and inspection activities.

Further strengthening its training and development capabilities, De-Tect achieved full accreditation (17-QA/CC/1456/18) under Stanley Inspection South Africa to provide NDT and Heat Treatment training through its training facility.

De-Tect Unit Inspection continued to strengthen its position within the power generation sector through the award of a long-term Level III contract at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station under Stanley Inspection South Africa, with a duration of 64 months.

The company expanded its regional footprint by performing NDT services at Hwange Power Station in Zimbabwe for General Electric, demonstrating its capability to deliver across Southern Africa.

Additional contracts were secured across Eskom’s fleet under Stanley Inspection South Africa, including Matimba, Majuba, and Camden Power Stations, where De-Tect provided NDT services during maintenance and outage periods.

In the petrochemical sector, De-Tect successfully executed a major turnaround for Astron Energy, further reinforcing its shutdown and turnaround expertise.

The company also enhanced its specialised inspection capabilities through the acquisition of Sonartech Specialized Inspection Services.

As part of a global strategic realignment, Stanley Oil & Gas divested its South African operations to a local management consortium operating under NYTS Holdings (Pty) Ltd. As a result, SISA Inspection, De-Tect Unit Inspection, and Cooperheat of Africa became fully locally owned entities under the new holding structure.

This year also marked a significant milestone, celebrating 40 years since the establishment of the original South African business, which was founded in 1980 during the construction of major infrastructure projects including Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, Sasol Synfuels plants, Eskom power stations, and the Saldanha Steel facility.

De-Tect continued to secure long-term work within the power generation sector, including a five-year contract at Eskom's Kriel Power Station for metallographic replication services. The company also expanded into the renewable energy sector, being awarded a contract to perform NDT services for GRI Wind Towers during fabrication processes.

In addition, De-Tect secured a framework agreement with Steinmüller Africa for the provision of NDT services within their fabrication workshop environment.

De-Tect Unit Inspection continued to deliver specialised inspection services across the power generation and industrial sectors, securing multiple contracts at key facilities.

The company was awarded contracts to perform advanced Eddy Current and surface inspections, including conventional ultrasonic testing, at Palmiet Power Station, as well as Non-Destructive Testing services at the Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme.

At Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, De-Tect played a key role in ongoing nuclear projects, performing Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) as part of the Steam Generator Replacement (SGR) daughter modification programme.

The KwaZulu-Natal (Richards Bay) branch secured specialised guided wave ultrasonic inspection work at Foskor, further expanding the company’s presence in the mining and heavy industry sector.

Additional work was also awarded within Eskom’s fleet, including metallurgical replication services at Grootvlei Power Station (Units 3 and 6), alongside continued replication work under the existing contract at Kriel Power Station.

De-Tect Unit Inspection continued to expand its advanced inspection capabilities both locally and internationally. Early in the year, the company performed tube inspections on various exchangers for Omnia Group using Eddy Current Testing (ECT) and Remote Field Testing (RFT).

Internationally, De-Tect delivered specialised inspection services across multiple regions, including IRIS inspections in Nigeria and Australia, as well as NDT services on sugar mill infrastructure.

At Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, De-Tect was awarded a long-term contract to continue providing radiography services, building on a track record of over 40 years of continuous service at the facility. The company also supported GE Steam Power with NDT services on low-pressure (LP) turbine rotor blading.

A major milestone was achieved with De-Tect attaining accreditation as a South African National Accreditation System Type A Inspection Body (Accreditation No. NDT 0003), demonstrating compliance with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 and confirming the company’s technical competence and independence.

The company continued to secure key contracts within the power generation sector, including Non-Destructive Examinations (MT and UT) on penstocks at the Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme, Eddy Current inspections at Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme, and high-pressure pipework metallurgical replication at Grootvlei Power Station.

Additional specialised work included CUPS detection using QSR technology on international pipeline projects, as well as a river crossing pipeline inspection project in Mozambique.

De-Tect Unit Inspection began the year by strengthening relationships with existing clients while securing new opportunities across multiple sectors. The company expanded its portfolio with projects for Air Liquide and Babcock International, and was awarded new work in the renewable energy sector, providing NDT services at the Dorper Wind Farm for Altitec, as well as NDT oversight for Ansaldo Energia.

In support of the growing renewable energy supply chain, De-Tect received a purchase order from ArcelorMittal to perform NDT on wind tower plates at its Vaal branch for Vestas.

The company further diversified into the mining sector, securing a contract for Eddy Current inspections at the Karowe Mine operated by Lucara Diamond.

Within the nuclear sector, De-Tect was awarded advanced NDT work at Koeberg Power Station by John Thompson, including Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) and Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD).

In the oil and gas sector, De-Tect secured a significant three-year contract with PetroSA to provide ongoing NDT services.

De-Tect Unit Inspection continued to strengthen its position in the power generation sector with the award of a contract at the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme. The scope includes Non-Destructive Examinations on penstocks for Waterway Units 1–4, supporting critical hydroelectric infrastructure.

In March 2025, the company secured a significant five-year contract at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station for the provision of high-pressure tube cleaning, along with advanced inspection services including Eddy Current and laser-based inspections on an as-required basis. This award further reinforces De-Tect’s long-standing relationship with Koeberg and its expertise in specialised nuclear inspection services.

Provision of High Pressure cleaning of tubes, Eddy Current and / or Laser Inspections on an as and when required basis at Koeberg Operating Unit.