Wärtsilä is to carry out an upgrade of the electrical and automation systems to improve reliability of the Kribi power plant in the Republic of Cameroon. The 216 MW plant has been in operation for nearly ten years, operating with 13 Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines running primarily on natural gas. At the time of commissioning, it was the largest gas engine power plant in Sub-Saharan Africa. Wärtsilä will also support the customer’s operational and maintenance performance with a 10-year long-term service agreement.
The order as placed by Kribi power development company (KPDC), a subsidiary of Globeleq, an independent power producer and the owner and operator of power generating facilities across Africa.
“The Kribi power plant has a vital role within the African energy sector. It is still today supplying two-thirds of the thermal energy in Cameroon. Cameroon's energy system relies heavily on hydropower but has uncertain resources of water. The Kribi plant, therefore, plays a key role … and we are keen to upgrade the power plant’s automation systems to the latest design” commented Gionata Visconti, COO of Globeleq.
The project is scheduled to commence in 2023. To ensure the continuity of the plant's output, the work will be carried out on one engine at a time. The long-term service agreement includes remote operational support, maintenance planning, technical advisory and remote troubleshooting services, as well as spare parts.
Wärtsilä has altogether supplied 550 MW of generating capacity to the Republic of Cameroon, and 7.5 GW to the whole of Africa, of which more than a quarter are covered by Wärtsilä service agreements.
Linkedin
