Wartsila signs landmark deal for power plant in Zambia

Finnish power company Wartsila has signed its first operations and maintenance agreement in Zambia.

The 10-year deal is with Ndola Energy, a subsidiary of Great Lakes Energy, and covers the full operations, maintenance and servicing of the NECL power plant in Ndola.

The plant will be powered by a total of six of Wartsila’s 32 engines running on heavy fuel oil supplied from the Indeni refinery, which is immediately adjacent to the plant.

Ndola plant is due to start commercial operations at the end of July and the electricity produced will be sold to Zambia Electricity Supply Company.

Once operational, the plant will have an output capacity of 50 MW, which will be fed to the grid. It will be the first HFO power plant installed in Zambia to be exclusively operated by Wartsila.

Zambia relies heavily on hydropower and this new power plant is intended to complement the country’s installed capacity.

David Carroll, business development manager at Ndola Energy, said the deal was “a milestone achievement in developing the power generation business in Zambia”.

“This is the first greenfield project from an independent power producer to operate in Zambia, with the funding being 100 percent private sector capital.”