Today more than ever, energy-intensive businesses across Nigeria are looking to secure their own power supply, either with captive power plants or through merchant agreements.
But developing, financing and building power projects in our country is no small feat. Tough regulatory environment, permitting issues, lack of project financing, security and currency risks, fuel supply disruptions, fragile infrastructures, you name it. Countless hurdles can get in the way.
We should know: Wärtsilä has delivered over 1,000 MW of engine power plants throughout Nigeria, cutting across the energy and marine industry for the past two decades.
And I can tell you this: What makes or breaks a project goes well beyond making the right technology choices. It’s about finding the right partner. Do they have what it takes to take your project all the way through in the challenging Nigerian environment?
To help answer that question, we would like to share with you the four key reasons that we believe are making Wärtsilä’s projects so successful:
A project partner with a strong track record and skin in the game is key
Developing a power plant in Nigeria is a long and arduous process that requires a partner with a solid technical backbone, a ton of experience and an efficient local set up. One thing is for sure: without these three elements, projects such as the Lafarge Ewekoro 100 MW and Lafarge Mfamosing 100 MW captive power plants, among many others, could never have been built.
Very strong project development capabilities, backed by meticulous attention to contractual, environmental, and technical details are essential. In addition to managing project design and financing, the ability of your partner to share the development risk by taking minority equity stakes in the project can also make a big difference in stakeholder confidence.
A power solution that aligns perfectly with the customer’s unique industrial needs
Industrial customers have diverse power requirements based on their specific manufacturing or operating processes, production schedules, and growth strategies.
That’s why Wärtsilä favours a consultative approach to tailor solutions that match each customer’s operational profile and capacity needs. We work closely with clients and deploy advanced modelling techniques—from load forecasting to design optimisation— to ensure that the power solution aligns perfectly with the customer’s performance requirements and expansion plans.
Best-in-class O&M support with contractual guarantees of performance
Choosing a trusted O&M partner with proven local expertise is vital to safeguarding your investment. You should never compromise on your need for consistent and reliable power: That’s why our long-term service agreements include performance guarantees. We have the confidence to vouch for the reliability of our power plants and guarantee very high levels of availability in our O&M contracts, giving you peace of mind.
Our O&M services encompass preventive and predictive maintenance, using sophisticated analytics and digital solutions to identify issues before they escalate. Our local service network in Nigeria provides fast-response support, further minimizing disruptions in critical power supply.
A one-stop-shop solution is safer than a fragmented multi-provider approach
Turnkey solutions considerably reduce project risk. In a country like Nigeria, it is paramount.
That’s why Wärtsilä has built a comprehensive end-to-end solution: We are not just an Original Equipment Manufacturer, we also provide development, financing support, engineering, procurement, construction and O&M services, all under one umbrella.
Hundreds of successful projects have demonstrated that having a single point of contact and a turnkey approach reduces complexity, accelerates development timelines, and ensures accountability. This centralized responsibility streamlines communication, minimizes the complexity of managing multiple vendors, and ensures that each phase of the project is executed effectively.
In demanding markets like Nigeria, partnering with a globally recognized energy company with end-to-end capabilities is essential to mitigate risks at all project stages.
Wärtsilä’s proven track record, deep local roots, and comprehensive service offering gives businesses the confidence that their power projects will run reliably for decades, ensuring stable production and peace of mind for executives who depend on uninterrupted power supply.
