Newport Firm Stabilises Egypt's Earthquake-hit Pyramid

Giant inflatable air bags are being used to make the 4,700 year old pyramid safe

A south Wales engineering company is using 21st Century technology, including air bags, to help preserve one of Egypt's most imposing landmarks, dating back to 2,700 BC.

The Pyramid of Djoser is Egypt's oldest step-built pyramid. But it was at risk of collapse after an earthquake in 1992.

Newport specialist engineers Cintec, who have previously provided solutions to structural problems at landmarks such as the White House and Windsor Castle, were set the task of helping it last another 4,700 years.

The team has now completed phase one of the work at the site at Saqqara, south west of Cairo.

It involved using pressurised air-filled bags, in order to hold up the roof of the 60m high pyramid, while more permanent repairs are carried out.

However managing director of Cintec, Peter James, says this is just the first step in a project which has been complicated by the recent political upheaval in Egypt.

We were all packed and ready to begin work in January, just when the Egyptian government began to fall," said Mr James.

"We've had to sit on our hands for another four months before getting the go-ahead; all the while hearing stories of looting, and worrying about how much additional damage was going to be caused."

"Fortunately, even though most of our computers and equipment were stolen, the pyramid itself wasn't touched; which is just as well considering how unstable it was when we got in there."

Mr James, who started his career as a buildings inspector for Cardiff Council, said, even with the amount of preparation they'd done, they still weren't prepared for quite how badly damaged the supporting ceiling of the burial chamber really was.