Wärtsilä strengthens commitment to Zambia with O&M agreement renewal for Ndola power plant
Wärtsilä Corporation, Trade press release, 26 September 2024 at 9 AM EEST
Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a renewal of its Operations & Maintenance (O&M) agreement covering the 105 MW power plant owned by Independent Power Producer Ndola Energy Company Ltd (NECL) in Zambia. The previous agreement had been in force since 2013. By ensuring the reliability and availability of the plant, NECL can meet its Power Purchase Agreement obligations with Zambia’s utility, ZESCO. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q2, 2024.
"We have worked closely with Wärtsilä for a number of years, and we are confident that they will continue to successfully operate and maintain the plant to ensure reliable supply of electricity,” says Dr. Brian Mushimba, CEO at NECL.
The plant operates with twelve Wärtsilä 32 engines, including six equipped with two-stage turbocharging technology. Hydropower is the main source of electricity in Zambia. However, the country is facing an electricity shortage due to a devastating drought that has impacted hydropower generation. The NECL plant is, therefore, an important contributor to maintaining a reliable electricity supply.
"We value long-term partnerships and collaboration with our customers. This agreement renewal is a good example of our commitment to support our customers throughout the lifecycle of their installation and ensure continued productivity and profitability of their operations. Our long-term presence also allows us to support the local economy and community in countries such as Zambia," comments Marc Thiriet, Energy Business Director, Africa at Wärtsilä Energy.
O&M Agreements are an important element of Wärtsilä’s lifecycle support strategy. They represent a partnership with the customer, with shared power plant performance goals. An O&M Agreement is an efficient lifecycle solution that covers every aspect of a power plant’s day-to-day operation and all related maintenance for the generating sets and administration tasks. Each agreement aims to maximise the productive lifetime of the installation and deliver a valuable return on investment. The solution is tailored to the customer’s specific needs.
Wärtsilä 32 diesel engine
Media contact for more information on this release:
Katri Pehkonen
Communications Manager
Wärtsilä Energy
Mob: +358 50 591 6180
katri.pehkonen@wartsila.com
Image caption: Wärtsilä has signed a renewal of its Operations & Maintenance agreement covering the 105 MW power plant owned by Independent Power Producer Ndola Energy Company Ltd in Zambia.
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Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,800 professionals in more than 280 locations in 79 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2023, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 6.0 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
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Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy is at the forefront of the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers and the power sector to accelerate their decarbonisation journeys through our market-leading technologies and power system expertise. Our solutions include flexible engine power plants, energy storage and optimisation technology, and services for the whole lifecycle of our installations. Our engines are future-proof and can run on sustainable fuels. Our track record comprises 79 GW of power plant capacity, of which 18 GW are under service agreements, and over 125 energy storage systems, in 180 countries around the world.
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