Volga-Dnepr flies 79 tonnes of switchgear equipment to Zimbabwe

The logistics specialists at Volga-Dnepr Gulf helped Glasgow-based power provider Aggreko to fulfil a contract to supply a 200 MW diesel-fueled power plant to a client in Zimbabwe.



Respected globally for its ability to deploy modular, mobile power equipment at short notice, Aggreko contracted Ruslan International, the An-124 freighter joint venture between Volga-Dnepr Airlines and Antonov, to fly the 79,050kg shipment in order to meet its tight delivery deadline, while Volga-Dnepr Gulf provided a full logistics solution on the ground.



While the bulk of the equipment for this project was shipped by sea and road from various hubs around the world, airfreight was identified as the only reliable and secure option to deliver time-critical switchgear equipment from Dubai. It is used to safely connect power generating equipment to the national grid and helps to prevent short circuits and damage to the generators. The equipment, which needed to be transported from Dubai to Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, contained nine pieces of up to 4 metres in height.



Volga-Dnepr Gulf’s first recommendation was to modify the frames holding the switchgear equipment to ensure the cargo could be loaded and unloaded safely. Aggreko also contracted Volga-Dnepr to arrange the collection of the cargo from the Jebel Ali Free Zone and to organise two 50-tonne capacity cranes to load the cargo safely onboard the An-124-100 freighter. Additionally, the Volga-Dnepr team took care of all export documentation, customs clearance, airport terminal cargo handling and airport permits for the cranes. With the support of the Dubai World Central (DWC) airport authority, Ruslan International and Volga-Dnepr completed all of the required processes within five days.