Providing specialized inspection, non-destructive testing (NDT), and asset integrity services for water conveyance, storage, hydroelectric, and pumped storage infrastructure. De-Tect Unit Inspection has extensive experience in the inspection, condition assessment, and integrity management of waterways, penstocks, pipelines, pressure-retaining components, and associated mechanical systems. The company supports construction, maintenance, outage, refurbishment, and life-extension programmes through advanced NDT techniques including Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), Eddy Current Testing (ECT), Remote Field Testing (RFT), Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL), Guided Wave Testing (GWT), and conventional inspection methods. Notable experience includes the inspection of waterways and penstocks at the Palmiet, Drakensberg, and Ingula Pumped Storage Schemes; pipeline integrity assessments for Rand Water and KwaZulu-Natal waterway projects; river crossing pipeline inspections in Mozambique; and long-term support of hydroelectric infrastructure for Eskom. This experience enables De-Tect Unit Inspection to deliver reliable asset integrity solutions that support the safe, efficient, and sustainable operation of critical water infrastructure.
Our Experience in the Water Industry
1996 - 1997
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.
2012 - 2013
De-Tect Unit Inspection successfully completed a major turnaround project at a Chevron facility, delivering a full range of NDT services.
The company continued its work in the power generation sector, performing comprehensive NDT services (RT, MT, PT, UT, and Phased Array) at Grootvlei Power Station during outages and maintenance activities.
In addition, De-Tect was awarded a contract to carry out manual ultrasonic inspections on waterways and penstocks at the Palmiet hydroelectric power station, further reinforcing its expertise in critical infrastructure inspection.
2017 - 2018
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.
2021
De-Tect Unit Inspection continued to strengthen its industry standing through professional recognition, attaining and renewing full membership with the American Society for Nondestructive Testing and securing membership with the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
The company maintained strong momentum in the power generation sector, securing contracts for metallographic replication at Matimba Power Station, as well as NDT services (MT and PT) at Majuba and Lethabo Power Stations for FieldCore.
In the petrochemical sector, De-Tect was awarded multiple contracts at Sasol Secunda, including NDT and heat treatment services for Wetback projects, as well as broader support during the 2021 shutdown. The company also completed a series of Eddy Current inspection projects across multiple units, including waste heat boilers and turnaround activities extending into 2022.
De-Tect further expanded its industrial footprint by performing NDT on kiln rollers and shells for Sephaku Cement, and maintaining ongoing call-out services for a wide range of clients across engineering, fabrication, and mining sectors.
Regionally, the company secured a significant three-year contract with Illovo Sugar to provide NDT services across six sites in Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, eSwatini, South Africa, and Tanzania.
In addition, De-Tect was awarded a specialised project involving Eddy Current Testing (ECT), Remote Field Testing (RFT), and Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) inspections on two 12 km water pipeline systems in KwaZulu-Natal.
2022
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.
2023
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.
2025
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.
Collective Industry Experience done by Tube Inspection Personnel
Our tube inspection team brings together extensive international industry experience gained by our personnel throughout their professional careers, including experience acquired prior to joining our company.
Collectively, our Eddy Current specialists have contributed to tube inspection projects for prestigious clients across the globe. Their individual experience spans a wide range of industries, including power generation, petrochemicals, mining, manufacturing, and oil & gas, where they have applied their expertise in support of complex inspection programmes.
This information reflects the professional experience of our personnel and should not be interpreted as representing projects undertaken by the company.
Our team's experience spans the following major industries:
- Oil & Gas (Upstream, Midstream & Downstream)
- Oil Refineries
- Petrochemicals
- Fertilizer & Ammonia Production
- Power Generation
- Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
- Mining
- Water Treatment & Desalination
- Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC)
- Industrial Manufacturing & Maintenance
This broad industry exposure demonstrates extensive experience in heat exchanger, condenser, boiler, and process equipment tube inspections across some of the world's most demanding industrial sectors.
Water Industry Eddy Current Testing
The projects listed below reflect the collective Eddy Current Testing expertise of our personnel, based on projects successfully completed in their individual professional capacities across the Water Industry.
- Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) Saudi Arabia - Water Desalination / Power
- Fisia Italimpianti UAE - Water Treatment / Desalination