Finland’s Wartsila will convert the close to 90 MW Bel-Air power plant in Dakar, Senegal to operate on LNG as part of a deal revealed on Monday.
Senegal’s public utility company, Senelec operates the plant which currently uses heavy fuel oil.
The conversion would future-proof the facility as Senegal’s long-term strategy is to lower the carbon footprint of energy production by switching to gas when a domestic supply is available, Wartsila said in a statement.
This project makes part of an interim LNG-to-power ‘bridge’ solution, and marks the first-ever power plant gas conversion in the country, Wartsila said.
The Finnish firm will convert the Bel-Air plant’s existing six Wärtsilä 46 engines to 50DF dual-fuel engines.
The duo are also in talks on Warstila’s current operation and maintenance agreement covering the existing engines.
Wartsila’s dual-fuel engine technology allows the use of multiple fuels, providing the option to operate on gas with liquid fuels as back-up.
As part of the engineering, procurement, and construction contract, Wartsila will manage all phases of the project.
The firm expects to complete the works before the end of 2021.
