The Derbendi Khan hydroelectric power station provides electricity to the surrounding area of Kurdistan. During 1998 The United Nations underwrote a safety report which highlighted a number of areas of concern.
In 1999, Binnie, Black & Veatch were commissioned by the UN to develop and implement urgent changes which would enable the continued operation of the station. Planning was meticulous as an approaching rainy season limited the period when the supply reservoir could be drawn down for maintenance purposes. In addition the works involved the transportation of equipment into Iraq, which at that time was subject to sanctions.
Kenneth Grubb Associates Ltd were retained by BB&V to advise on the requirements of the three spillway regulating Radial Gates, rated at a total discharge of 12800 m3/s. These gates measured 14.5 m wide x 15.64 m high and had been the subject of operational problems. KGAL Engineers met with the original gate designers and helped to develop solutions to the problems identified.
The engineering was procured through Metalna of Slovenia who subsequently installed and commissioned the modifications on time and on budget.
| 
