The Mansourah-Massarah gold project comprises two open-pit mines under development in the central region of Saudi Arabia. The project is part of Vision 2030, a movement to diversify revenue for the Saudi economy by moving away from oil, with a primary focus on mining underexploited resources including gold.
The mine and mineral processing plant, which is expected to produce 250,000 ounces of gold annually, will be owned by Ma’aden, a Saudi state-owned company. Ma’aden required a power generation solution that would enable integration of renewable energy in order to reduce both emissions and fossil fuel use.
Execution of the project is headed by a consortium consisting of Outotec and Larsen & Toubro, who selected Wärtsilä as a technology provider for the 58 MW power plant under their engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Ma’aden. Wärtsilä will provide engineering and equipment (EEQ) to the site along with technical advisory services until the plant is fully commissioned. The solution is scheduled to be commissioned by Q3 2021 and become commercially operational during 2022. It will comprise a hybrid concept 58 MW power plant encompassing six Wärtsilä 20V32TS engines that enable and prioritise the use of photovoltaic (PV) solar power.
Improved performance and lower costs across the lifecycle
Ma’aden had originally been considering rental generation with high-speed engines burning diesel fuel. After extensive discussions between Wärtsilä and Ma’aden it became apparent that a combination of PV solar energy and medium-speed reciprocating engines using liquid fuel could offer significant improvements for power generation performance at the Mansourah-Massarah site. A lifecycle cost analysis also revealed that while requiring a higher initial capital expenditure, opting for an owned power plant rather than rental generation would offer substantial savings in the longer term. As well as supplying the required equipment and providing engineering for it, Wärtsilä’s technical advisory service will ensure expert support during the installation and commissioning of the plant.
Hybrid concept plant minimises emissions
Ma’aden was committed to using renewable energy wherever possible. The agreed solution will be the first new-build hybrid concept power plant in Saudi Arabia. Because the Wärtsilä 20V32TS medium-speed reciprocating engine generating sets provide a fast response, they are able to quickly compensate for any shortages whenever the PV solar system is unable to generate sufficient power due to changing weather conditions or any other intermittencies. The engines therefore ensure that the Mansourah-Massarah mine can benefit from always-on power that maximises the use of solar energy without risking any loss in performance. The high efficiency, operational adaptability and fuel flexibility of this setup will also lead to a saving of more than 25% in the levelised cost of electricity compared with high-speed engines.
A proven track record of meeting customer needs
When Wärtsilä initially approached Ma’aden, the proactive, solution-oriented and transparent approach to discussions was central to the mining company’s decision to select the proposed technology. Given the company’s global mining expertise, it was clear that Wärtsilä possessed the knowledge and experience to cater for Ma’aden’s requirements and provide a smooth delivery. In addition, the Wärtsilä 32 engine generating sets, which provide the added benefit of being able to handle low stand-by energy consumption, have proven success with more than 100 engines in 15 baseload installations across Saudi Arabia.
“Right from the outset, Wärtsilä demonstrated a commitment to working hand in hand with us to reach a collaborative solution that was most suitable for our requirements. Their thorough and genuine approach and willingness to listen to our needs – as well as taking suggestions from third parties on board – left us convinced that they were the ideal partner to provide the equipment and engineering for this important project,” says Mohammed Meher Rizwan, DGM – Business Development, Larsen & Toubro
