Hera power plant in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Timor Leste & Wärtsilä

Reference case

Training services improve power-plant operator competence levels

One of the keys to a successful business is competence and learning. The Wärtsilä Land and Sea Academy (WLSA) now provides training for the power plant operators of Electricidade De Timor Leste (EDTL) to enable them to manage their plants independently. “In due time all our power plants will be handled by local Timorese experts,” says Mr Latino Jerenimo, Technical Advisor at EDTL.

The national electricity company (EDTL) of Timor Leste runs three Wärtsilä power plants: Hera with seven Wärtsilä 18V46 engines, Betano with eight 18V46 engines and Inur Sakato PP - Oecusse with four Wärtsilä 9L34DF engines. “These plants are vital in ensuring a stable and continuous power production for the entire nation,” says Mr Jerenimo.

Asset management with knowledge transfer

Wärtsilä and EDTL had signed an Asset Management contract in 2015 which included operations & maintenance of the plants. In January 2018 the original scope of that contract was expanded to also include the training of local staff. For the next five years, the WLSA will provide training for local power plant operators (totally 25 sessions), which will include competence assessments at set intervals.

Thanks to the training programme, the operators’ awareness of how to operate the equipment and the principles for maintenance will reach a higher level. “The training that Wärtsilä delivers is very rigorous and of a high standard, which was exactly what we expected, since Wärtsilä is an expert in power plants. So far, some 65 local Timorese operators have been trained, and the sessions have received very high ratings. In particular, the valuable discussions taking place at every training session have been totally worth having. Because of the training, some of the operators have even been promoted to supervisory positions,” says Mr Jerenimo.

Operators reaching their true potential

The Wärtsilä Land & Sea Academy (WLSA) has training centres in 9 countries around the globe, which enables the delivery of all aspects of training to suit every kind of organisation. Among other areas, WLSA training covers the management, operation, maintenance, safety, availability, reliability and performance of installations. “For us, sharing the knowledge and competence to operate the plants through a long-term training programme, including on-the-job training, was a perfect solution,” says Mr Jerenimo.

According to Mr Jerenimo, the well-delivered training services will help EDTL to achieve its mission to respond to their clients’ demand for electrical power. “Since our local staff have also performed well, the mission will be guaranteed. As our local Timorese experts will gradually take over the operation and maintenance of the power plants, it will also reduce the costs in the Annual State Budget.”

“I believe that our cooperation with Wärtsilä will continue for a long time. They have great expertise in power plants and are also the OEM manufacturer of the engines. With this increased communication and motivation, the result will be close to perfection,” concludes Mr Jerenimo.

 

WhoElectricidade de Timor Leste (EDTL)
WhatImproving power-plant operators competence levels
WhereTimor Leste
HowComprehensive high-quality training services by the Wärtsilä Land and Sea Academy

 

This is what we achieved

25

high-quality training sessions in 5 years by WLSA.

65+

power-plant operators improving their competence through training.

The training that Wärtsilä delivers is very rigorous and of a high standard.

Latino Jeronimo, Technical Advisor at EDTL

How we did it

Challenge icon

Challenge

  • Ensuring that the customer's operators are sufficiently skilled to operate, troubleshoot and maintain baseload power plants to gradually take over the operation and maintenance of the plants.
Solution icon

Solution

  • Sharing knowledge and competence for managing the plants through a long-term training program.
Benefit icon

Benefits

  • Significant competence improvement
  • Ability to independently operate plants safely, sustainably and economically

The main details

CustomerElectricidade De Timor Leste (EDTL)
TypeThree power plants with Wärtsilä engines: Hera, Betano & Inur Sakato
WhereTimor Leste
What5 years of training services by Wärtsilä Land & Sea Academy as part of the expanded Asset Management contract in 2018

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Related solutions and services

Related news and materials

Renewal of Wärtsilä Operation and Maintenance contract vital to security of Timor-Leste’s power supply

Aug 30, 2022, 08:30 by Wärtsilä Corporation

The technology group Wärtsilä has been awarded a three-year renewal to its Operation and Maintenance (O&M) agreement covering two power plants in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The importance of ensuring operational reliability and efficient maintenance is emphasised by the fact that these two baseload plants supply electricity for the entire country. The contract was signed with the country’s state-owned utility Electricidade de Timor Leste (EDTL) and included in Wärtsilä’s orderbook in the second quarter of 2022.

The plants both operate with Wärtsilä engine generating sets, and have been covered by Wärtsilä O&M agreements since their commissioning. The Hera power plant, located close to the country’s capital Dili, operates with seven Wärtsilä 46 engines and delivers an output of 119 MW. The Betano plant, which is located in the south of the country, produces 136 MW from eight Wärtsilä 46 engines. Both plants have been in full operation since 2012.

A key element of the agreement is the continuous remote monitoring of the generating sets from Wärtsilä’s Expertise Centres. This service optimises both performance as well as maintenance planning procedures and ensures the security of Timor-Leste’s power supply by providing a holistic view of the plants’ operations. Wärtsilä also provides training for the locally employed staff as part of the agreement.

“We have been extremely satisfied with the reliability and performance of these vitally important power plants. This speaks highly of both the efficiency of the Wärtsilä engine technology, as well as the professionalism and competence of their O&M service. We are pleased to renew this agreement,” said Paulo da Silva, President of EDTL.

“The country’s electricity supply is very much dependent on these two power plants, and we are very proud to say that for the past several years, there have been no unplanned outages at all. The plants have performed at maximum capacity, even during the challenging Covid crisis, and for this we must pay tribute to the technical capabilities of our local team, and to the thorough training provided. We are proud to have been awarded a renewal of this contract, which is an indication of the customer value that we can deliver,” commented Kari Punnonen, Energy Business Director, Australasia, Wärtsilä.

Wärtsilä currently has ten Expertise Centres located in strategic locations around the world. Together, the centres support Lifecycle Solution agreement customers with advice and recommendations based on the analysis of data from monitoring the condition and performance of the specified installation.

Earlier press release: Wärtsilä to ensure energy availability in Timor-Leste

Learn more about Wärtsilä Lifecycle solutions for energy industry
Relentless reach with remote support
Optimising power plant operations through remote support
 

Media contact for more information on this release:

Mirja-Maija Santala
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Wärtsilä Energy
Mob: +358 400 793 827

mirja-maija.santala@wartsila.com

Image 1: Betano power plant located in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
Image 2: Hera power plant located in the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
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Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers in decarbonisation by developing market-leading technologies. These cover future-fuel enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage and optimisation technology, including the GEMS energy management platform. Wärtsilä Energy’s lifecycle services are designed to increase efficiency, promote reliability and guarantee operational performance. Our track record comprises 76 GW of power plant capacity and 110 energy storage systems delivered to 180 countries around the world. 
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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 their environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,000 professionals in more than 200 locations in 68 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2021, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.8 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
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