Page 12 - AfrElec Week 16 2021

AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec

GAS-FIRED GENERATION engines will be converted to six Wärtsilä 50DF power and we are establishing the first steps
dual-fuel engines. Wärtsilä’s current operation to transforming this potential into a more
Wärtsilä gas conversion & maintenance agreement covering the sustainable and energy efficient system to
existing engines is being renegotiated in view
power our sites and depots.
project will accelerate of the conversion. Wärtsilä’s dual-fuel engine to show the first footprints of our energy
Ghana is pleased to be the first country
technology allows the use of multiple fuels,
Senegal’s move to cleaner providing the option to operate on gas with transition drive in Africa” Mitchell Board,
Global Head, Future Energies said: “By
liquid fuels as back-up.
energy production WÄRTSILÄ combining our expertise and local knowledge
with the right sites and access to finance,
The technology group Wärtsilä will convert we hope to accelerate the renewable energy
the close to 90 MW Bel-Air power plant in SOL AR transition in Ghana not just for Puma but for
Dakar, Senegal to operate on liquefied natural our customers too.”
gas (LNG). The plant, which is owned by Puma Energy launches PUMA ENERGY
Senelec, Senegal’s public utility company,
currently operates on heavy fuel oil. solar power systems in
The conversion will future-proof the GAS-FIRED GENERATION
facility as Senegal’s long-term strategy is Ghana
to lower the carbon footprint of energy DPR rallies stakeholders to
production by switching to gas when a Puma launches 11 solar projects at its
domestic supply is available. This project is retail stations and a further three at Puma boost gas supply
part of an interim LNG-to-Power ‘bridge’ Energy’s terminals in Ghana. The solar power
solution, and is the first ever power plant generation at 11 of the 14 sites is supported by The Department of Petroleum Resources
gas conversion in Senegal. The order with battery storage. (DPR) yesterday rallied major stakeholders,
Wärtsilä was booked in Q1 2021. The combined solar and battery power including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory
“Our two main aims were to improve the systems in 14 service stations and terminals Commission (NERC), the Nigerian Bulk
plant’s environmental profile and to lower in Ghana are part of Puma Energy’s Future Electricity Trading Limited (NBET) and
the operating costs. By taking advantage Energies business wider business plan to roll power generation companies (Gencos), over
of Wärtsilä’s deep experience and strong renewable energy projects around the world. its plans to ameliorate the current gas-to-
capabilities in power plant gas conversions, Puma Energy hopes not only to reduce its power shortage.
we can achieve both of these goals. At the own carbon footprint but also support its DPR told the Gencos that there was the
same time, we are preparing the plant for the commercial customers in Ghana and around need to take advantage of the Nigeria Gas
country’s future gas supply infrastructure,” the world as they seek to decarbonise and Network Transportation Code (NGNTC)
said Papa Mademba Biteye, Managing reduce their carbon impact. launched last year, stressing that it is ready to
Director of Senelec. These projects benefit from Ghana’s work with stakeholders on the removal of all
“Future-proofing the customer’s assets to high solar energy potential and have a total bottlenecks on the use of the code.
meet the requirements over the lifecycle via a capacity of 422kW and associated battery The federal government had last week
gas conversion is far more cost-effective than storage of 224 kWh and can provide up to apologised for worsening power supply,
building a new plant. It also facilitates the 100% of a site’s energy. blaming it on lack of gas supply. Minister of
greater use of energy from renewable sources, Henry Osei, Puma Energy GM, in Ghana Power Saleh Mamman had stated that seven
such as solar and wind, since the converted said “We are proud to install the solar systems of the key integrated power plants, comprising
plant will be able to provide highly flexible, in our sites and depots as it meets our purpose Geregu, Sapele, Omotosho, Gbarain, Omuku,
fast-starting baseload power for balancing of energising communities and reinforces our Paras and Alaoji, were experiencing gas
the grid,” commented Marc Thiriet, Energy commitment to clean energy solutions and constraints, leading to power outages.
Business Director, Africa West, Wärtsilä. meeting our ESG goals. Africa, and Ghana But the Director of DPR, Sarki Auwalu,
The Bel-Air plant’s existing six Wärtsilä 46 in particular, has a great potential of solar told the Gencos that all their reservations
concerning the gas supply code would be
resolved so as to improve power supply. He
stated that as a country with over 203 trillion
cubic feet (5.749 trillion cubic metres) of
gas, Nigeria must take advantage of the
availability of the commodity to resolve its
energy challenges in line with the directive
of President Muhammadu Buhari who has
already declared the decade that of gas to
fast-track the use of the fuel. He added that
the meeting was critical because up to 70%
of gas produced for the domestic market
was consumed by the power generation
companies, whic use it to produce electricity.
DPR

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