Skip to main content

Doosan ADTs provide haulage for Kenyan dam project

In Kenya, a fleet of eight Doosan MT41 articulated dump trucks (ADTs) is being used to carry materials to a major dam project The Chemususu Dam in the Rift Valley, 250km north-east of the capital Nairobi is one of several dams being constructed with heavy investment from the Government of Kenya.The aim is to make access to safe water much easier, removing the need for the long journeys to remote water sources made every day by women and children from small villages across the country to fetch water for thei
April 3, 2013 Read time: 3 mins
Doosan ADTs constantly move up and down the steep mountain roads

In Kenya, a fleet of eight Doosan MT41 articulated dump trucks (ADTs) is being used to carry materials to a major dam project

The Chemususu Dam in the Rift Valley, 250km north-east of the capital Nairobi is one of several dams being constructed with heavy investment from the Government of Kenya.

The aim is to make access to safe water much easier, removing the need for the long journeys to remote water sources made every day by women and children from small villages across the country to fetch water for their families.

Works for the dam started in 2009 and will cover a total of 95 hectares with the dam providing a capacity of 11 billion m³ of water when completed.

The 695 Doosan MT41 ADTs, being used by a company called Frabo & Co, carry rock down the steep slopes of a nearby quarry and on to the site of the dam. Several million tonnes of rock must be extracted from the hillsides and transported to help form the gigantic dam wall which will have a height of 60m.

“During the rainy season, the dusty roads turn into slippery and very muddy surfaces. With their tandem bogie system, the Doosan trucks have no difficulty climbing up the slopes. They always have traction.
As a result, we do not have to stop working when the rain falls,” says Booker Mbugua, managing director of Frabo & Co. According to Mr Mbugua, some of the roads on the project have near-to 360° curves.

With the turning ring mounted at the front of the trucks, the Doosan ADTs are said to ensure excellent stability, preventing tyre wear and avoiding the use of a differential lock system.

To reach the dump site on top of the high stone wall at the dam, the operators have to drive backwards into a very narrow piece of road between the cliffs.

According to the operators, the visibility offered by the Doosan machines ensures that they can tip the load with no fear as they can see all around when driving in reverse.

The Chemususu Dam is due to be finished later this year, and it is estimated that it will produce a daily total of 35 million m³ of water, which is treated in a specialised plant before being distributed to the various neighbouring communities.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Terex trucks make epic tough trek
    June 21, 2016
    A fleet of 29 Terex Trucks recently made a journey of 20,800km by road, river and sea The machines were delivered to the site in Myanmar, to work in a particularly tough extraction operation. The fleet was delivered to a site in Kachin State in northern Myanmar, having been ordered by three local firms to carry blasted material haul distances of around 2km for processing. The three companies; Aung Hein Min Gems, Yar Za Htar Ne Gems and Myanmar Thura Gems contacted Yangon-based dealer Aung Hein Min
  • Performance boost for Doosan ADTs
    September 30, 2013
    Doosan is offering increased performance for its DA30 and DA40 ADTs, boosting productivity in earthmoving as well as extraction operations. New features include a levelling meter developed to meet increased safety requirements in the quarry industry will help to raise the safety bar even further. The system uses rotation sensors installed on the front and body of the truck which provide a graphical readout on the control panel. This tells the driver whether or not it is safe to drive the truck forward and
  • Volvo’s new 55tonne capacity A60H hauler marks a 50th anniversary
    March 16, 2016
    Volvo Construction Equipment’s new 55-tonne capacity Volvo A60H meets growing customer demand for articulated haulers with larger capacities. The articulated hauler concept was originally launched by Volvo in 1966 and celebrates its 50th birthday this year. The Volvo A60H’s higher payload – a 40% increase on Volvo’s A40 –lowers the cost-per-tonne for hauliers. It also offers an alternative to rigid dump trucks and construction trucks operating on soft, uneven or steep roads, allowing a similar amount
  • BKT delivers with extensive EARTHMAX tyre range
    June 16, 2025

    BKT’s best-performing tyres are designed for maximum strength, durability, and safety even under the most demanding operating conditions, such as quarrying, mining and heavy construction projects. 

    One of the real stars is the EARTHMAX SR 468, a large radial tyre specifically developed for trucks. Thanks to BKT's advanced technology, this pattern has been designed to carry heavy loads while providing resistance against rock cuts and punctures. The innovative tread design ensures durability and high performance even under severe conditions.