Page 7 - AfrElec Week 23 2021
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AfrElec LNG -TO -POWER AfrElec
Orezone, Genser sign PPA for LNG-to-
power project in Burkina Faso
BURKINA FASO US-BASED Genser Energy has agreed to set up a operate, own and secure all necessary permits
small-scale LNG-fuelled power plant in Burkina for the power plant. It will also be responsible for
Faso to Orezone Gold Corp. (Canada) for use the design, financing and installation of all the
at the Bomboré gold mine. The deal makes the equipment and infrastructure facilities needed
Canadian company the first mining operation in to support the plant’s operations, including LNG
Burkina Faso to use LNG as a source of energy. and diesel storage depots.
According to a statement from Orezone, the Bachir Ismael Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso’s
parties have signed a power purchase agreement Minister of Mines and Energy, hailed the signing
(PPA) that provides for Genser to install a power of the PPA and described LNG as a clean-burn-
plant consisting of six LNG-fuelled generators, ing fuel. “Having the first LNG plant at a mining
each with a capacity of 2.5 MW, and four back-up operation is a great step forward for the industry,
diesel generators, each with a capacity of 2.6 and we congratulate Orezone in this regard,” he
MW. These LNG-burning units will provide the said. “As a government, we continue to support
majority of the electricity needed to power Ore- clean energy alternatives that provide a plat-
zone’s Bomboré gold mine, the statement said. form for sustainable growth and benefits our
Later, Genser will expand the plant’s total communities.”
capacity by 14 MW through the installation of Patrick Downey, the president and CEO of
solar power units that will be installed in stages. Orezone, pointed out that the use of LNG-fuelled
These units will be connected to the LNG and power would help reduce Burkina Faso’s carbon
diesel generators via an 11-kV transmission line. emissions. “We are extremely excited to be the
The power plant’s configuration is “sized first mine in Burkina Faso to use a LNG and solar
for [Orezone’s] initial oxide operation and the hybrid power supply,” he said. “Besides being an
planned sulphide expansion” of the Bomboré excellent cost-effective choice for Bomboré, we
mine, the statement noted. The PPA includes a also see this new power solution as being a very
“[fixed-rate] energy tariff [that] will apply over positive step for the Burkina Faso mining and
the life-of-mine (‘LOM’) oxide operation, with electricity generating sectors. LNG power sys-
a fixed-rate tariff to be negotiated for the addi- tems, coupled with solar, will enable energy-in-
tional energy demand upon commissioning of tensive industries such as mining to reduce fuel
the sulphide-processing circuit expected in year consumption, decrease energy costs, and signif-
three of commercial production,” it added. icantly cut greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions.”
Under the PPA, Orezone said, Genser will
Week 23 10•June•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P7
