Page 9 - AfrElec Week 24 2022

AfrElec GAS GENERATION AfrElec

Mauritius to finish soliciting

expressions of interest for

LNG-to-power project

MAURITIUS THE Central Electricity Board (CEB) of Mauri- LNG Prime did not disclose the expected
tius will wrap up the process of accepting expres- value of the contract. Nor did it say how much
sions of interest (EoIs) for an LNG-to-power LNG might be needed to meet the needs of
contract this week, according to LNG Prime. the power barge or where the LNG might be
The state-owned power provider invited sourced. It did note, though, that CEB was pre-
potential investors to submit proposals earlier pared to consider proposals for the installation
this year, saying it would accept EoIs between of barges that housed either simple-cycle or
May 10 and June 15, the news service said. It combined-cycle gas-fired thermal power plants
said CEB was seeking to work with a company (TPPs).
that could install a natural gas-fired power barge It also noted that the utility, which supplies
with a generating capacity of up to 80-100 MW about 45% of the electricity consumed in Mau-
and an associated floating storage and regasifi- ritius, had conceived the LNG-to-power project
cation unit (FSRU). The latter vessel would take as part of a wider move toward reducing carbon
delivery of LNG, regasify it and transfer it to the dioxide emissions in the energy sector. LNG is
power barge via ship-to-ship (STS) transfer so seen as a lower-carbon fuel than coal and resid-
that it could be used to generate electricity, it ual fuel oil, which currently account for 41% and
explained. 39% of CEB’s total energy mix, it explained.
CEB will expect the winner of the contract to Power barges can also help Mauritius cover
work with the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) expected increases in demand for electricity,
to determine the best location for the power which could rise to as high as 641 MW by 2030,
barge and FSRU to make sure that the project LNG Prime said. Marine-based LNG-to-power
does not affect the country’s maritime industry, it solutions are a faster and more efficient option
said. Once the power barge is operational, it will for meeting this need than capital-intensive and
be able to establish a connection to CEB’s 66-kV time-consuming construction of new onshore
transmission network via existing substations at TPPs, it commented.™
an onshore location in St. George, it added.

Week 24 16•June•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P9