Wartsila-built Musandam power plant to offer smart power solutions

MUSCAT, NOV 18 - The Musandam Independent Power Project (IPP) power plant in northern Oman, supplied and built by the technology group Wärtsilä, will provide eco-friendly power generation solutions to the region, according to the equipment’s Finnish suppliers. High-level representatives from Wärtsilä attended the official inauguration of the project last week. The ceremony was attended by executives from the plant owners, Musandam Power Company (MPC). The 120 MW generating facility will contribute to the overall economic development of the Musandam Governorate. The Musandam Governorate is a rapidly developing region, and the Wärtsilä Smart Power Generation plant will provide much needed grid stability, the Finnish corporation said in a press statment. In addition to providing a sustainable and reliable electricity supply to support the region’s economic development, the plant will also provide significant environmental benefits by operating on associated gas from local oil wells, which would otherwise be flared into the atmosphere, it noted. The plant was delivered by Wärtsilä on a turnkey contract. Power is generated by 15 Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines running primarily on gas but capable of switching to light fuel oil if necessary. The efficient 34DF engines can reliably operate in high humidity and ambient temperatures that can reach 50 degrees C in the region. The Smart Power Generation plant also requires almost no water for cooling, which was an important consideration in the selection of the Wärtsilä solution. In officially opening the facility, Salim al Hashmi, Project Director, Musandam Power Company, stated: “This plant is a central part of the major integrated development of the Musandam Governorate. The project will play a significant role in meeting the power needs of the region’s current and upcoming industries, while at the same time benefiting the local community.” In his speech, Sushil Purohit, Vice-President, Middle East, Asia and Australia, Energy Solutions, said: “We are proud to showcase the capabilities of Wärtsilä’s Smart Power Generation in meeting the region’s strict grid code requirements. We are proud that we can also contribute to a cleaner environment by lowering CO2 emissions through our advanced technology. We congratulate MPC and the Omani authorities for their vision and foresight in developing and supporting this project.”