Wartsila bags new project from Sokoto Cement

By John Eche

In what is coming across as a further boost for alternative energy processes by businesses in Nigeria, the technology group Wärtsilä has revealed that it will supply a 70 MW captive power plant for BUA’s new Sokoto cement production plant.

According to a statement from the Finland-originating firm, the plant is required to supply energy for an off grid additional cement production line. The statement also outlined that the new order is coming after an earlier 50 MW power plant two years earlier.

‘Both the current and 2019 orders feature Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines operating primarily with liquefied natural gas (LNG), but with the flexibility to switch to an alternative fuel oil should there be interruptions to the gas supply, quality or pressure. Operation of the Wärtsilä engines is not affected by these interruptions,’ the statement also underscored.

Commenting on the rationale behind the undertaking, Abdul Samad Rabiu, CON, Chairman, BUA Cement and BUA Group said:

“To maintain our cement production requirements in line with our schedules and economic forecasts, we need reliable, fuel-efficient power generation. We also need capable and reliable after-market support, and in all these areas Wärtsilä is a strong partner with their local presence to provide excellent service. The decision to issue a repeat order for the new power plant from Wärtsilä was not, therefore, difficult to make,.

Wärtsilä currently provides as much as 800MW of Nigeria’s power generation market and on the African continent as a whole, an installed base of more than 7000 MW.

Abdulsamad Rabiu, BUA Group CEO