The order for this power project has been placed by Kribi Power Development Company (KPDC), an affiliate of AES Corporation. The scope of supply includes dual-fuel engines that will run primarily on gas. The power plant is scheduled to become fully operational before the end of 2011. The electricity generated will be fed to the national grid.
Arnaud Gouet, general manager of Wartsila Power Plants in South Africa, said: “The flexibility and operational cost advantages offered by Wartsila’s dual-fuel engines are being recognized on a global scale.
“The Cameroon national grid is primarily driven by hydropower, which is obviously a fluctuating energy source. Our engines provide that critical support flexibility that allows the customer to adapt to these grid load variations and enhance the reliability of the electricity supply system, especially during the dry season. Furthermore, the utility is able to switch operation of the Wartsila engines from gas to light fuel oil during maintenance of the gas supply platform.”
This project follows the December 2009 inauguration of the 86MW Dibamba power plant in Yassa, Cameroon. The new power plant to be installed in Kribi will bring the total power output supplied by Wartsila engines in Cameroon to nearly 450MW, the company said.
