Wärtsilä bags major Saudi power plant supply deal

Global technology group Wärtsilä secured a contract to supply engineering equipment and provide technical advisory for a 44 megawatts (MW) power plant within the Mansourah & Massarah gold project mine in Saudi Arabia.

It will be the first newbuild power project in the country to utilize a hybrid concept, with engine technology and solar energy, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

The order with Wärtsilä was placed in March by Indian construction conglomerate Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T), which is the main project contractor.

The power plant will comprise 6 Wärtsilä 32 engines, with 5 in operation and 1 on constant stand-by.

"We enhance energy transition by optimizing systems for our customers, and have extensive experience in providing power for mining operations, so this project fits our capabilities perfectly," Alexandre Eykerman, Energy Business Director, Middle East of Wärtsilä, said.

He further added that the Wärtsilä equipment will be delivered on a fast-track basis within 10 months from the contract signing.

The plant is scheduled to be commissioned by May 2021, with commercial operations beginning a year later.

The Mansourah & Massarah project is Saudi Arabian Mining Company’s (Ma’aden) largest ever gold project, estimated to produce an average of 250,000 ounces of gold per year over the life of the mine. It is being executed by a consortium of Outotec and L&T.