Wärtsilä Secures 14 MW Power Plant Order for Mining Operations in Senegal, Delivery in 2027

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 27, Wärtsilä received an order for a 14 MW captive power plant for the Diamba Sud gold mine project in Senegal, supplying five Wärtsilä 32 engines for the project. The order was placed by Africa Power Services (APS), the EPC contractor for the power plant, on behalf of Fortuna Mining, the mine owner. Wärtsilä booked the order in the second quarter of 2026.

Wärtsilä's scope of supply also includes basic engineering design, auxiliary equipment for the engines, and engine control and monitoring systems, along with technical support during installation and commissioning. The equipment is scheduled for delivery in March 2027, and the 14 MW power plant is expected to commence operations by the end of 2027. Located in the Kédougou region of southeastern Senegal, the Diamba Sud project has no viable access to the nearby grid, and the mine's operational power needs will be supplied by this captive power plant.

Fortuna Mining completed the feasibility study for Diamba Sud in June this year. The project plans to use open-pit mining and conventional carbon-in-leach (CIL) processing, with initial capital expenditure of approximately USD 398 million and a designed mine life of 9.4 years. Average annual gold production of 116,000 ounces is expected over the life of the mine, with average annual production of approximately 158,000 ounces during the first four years. The company has allocated a pre-development budget of USD 73 million and is currently advancing procurement for site roads, camp facilities, and key infrastructure, targeting first gold pour in the second quarter of 2028.

Fortuna has previously designated APS as the EPC contractor for the power plant and has issued letters of award for critical path contracts, including the power plant. The current power plant solution utilizes heavy fuel oil and light fuel oil generating sets, while retaining the option to add renewable energy capacity in the future. Fortuna has not yet disclosed the specific scale or implementation timeline for potential solar, wind, or energy storage projects.