Wärtsilä Technology Group has been chosen to supply the engines and ancillary equipment needed to build a power plant for the Boto gold mine in Senegal. This order, placed by Africa Power Services (APS), was booked in the first quarter of 2024. APS, a main contractor based in France, is responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction of this plant.
Recently acquired by Managem, an international mining group operating in eight African countries, the Boto mine is located in an isolated area, not connected to the electricity grid. “This plant is critical to the mine’s operations, and we needed to partner with a supplier that could ensure a stable and reliable power supply. Wärtsilä stood out for the quality of its equipment and the speed of its delivery times, which is essential for this project,” said Romain Darracq, Head of Sales Support at APS.
The plant, with a capacity of 17 MW, will be powered by six Wärtsilä 32 engines, delivered on an equipment-technical (EEQ) basis. Sameer Poredi, Head of Business Development at Wärtsilä Energy, highlighted: “Our technologies offer exceptional flexibility and optimal performance, even under varied load conditions. With our significant presence in Africa, particularly through our facilities in Dakar, we effectively support our customers throughout the life cycle of their power plants. »
Wärtsilä 32 engines are renowned for their reliability, with over 30 years of operation and a total capacity of 8,000 MW supplied to customers around the world. Their quick start-up flexibility also facilitates the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, enabling better balance of electricity networks.
Delivery of the equipment is scheduled for December 2024, and commissioning of the plant should take place during the first quarter of 2025.
