Following the successful completion of acceptance tests for its 120-MW gas-fired power plant on December 10, independent power producer Gigawatt Mozambique reports that it has successfully commissioned its power station at Ressano Garcia, on the border of South Africa and Mozambique.
Financing for the R3-billion project was secured in June, after which construction started in August and first testing started in November.
Gigawatt Mozambique would supply the power to Mozambican power utility Electricidade de Moçambique under a long-term power purchase agreement for use in Mozambique and for on-selling into the regional grid.
The plant would generate electricity to the equivalent of 250 000 households and was expected to make a substantial contribution to the Mozambican power supply capacity.
Power for the plant was produced by 13 Rolls Royce engines and ABB generators, with each set weighing 140 t and producing 9 300 kW. The turnkey contract was executed by a consortium comprising Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO), Parsons Brinckerhoff and Spain-based TSK, which was the main sub-contractor.
Equity support for the shareholders was provided by Old Mutual and WBHO and debt funding was secured from Standard Bank.
Funding insurance was provided by the Export Credit Insurance Corporation and the World Bank’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.