Wärtsilä to supply 14 MW power plant for Senegal gold project

Wärtsilä will supply five Wärtsilä 32 engines for a 14 MW captive power plant at the Diamba Sud Gold Project in Senegal.

The power plant will provide electricity for the mining operation, which will rely entirely on the facility because of its remote location.

Africa Power Services placed the order on behalf of Fortuna Mining. The France-based company is the main engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the power plant.

Wärtsilä recorded the contract in its order intake during the second quarter of 2026.

Power plant to support future renewable energy

The Wärtsilä 32 generating sets can start quickly, allowing the plant to balance intermittent renewable energy from sources such as wind and solar power.

Fortuna Mining has indicated that it intends to add renewable energy to the project’s microgrid in the future.

“Operating a remote, off-grid mine requires reliable power, as any unscheduled downtime carries financial and operational risks,” said Cedric Fernandez, Managing Director of Africa Power Services.

“Wärtsilä’s engines deliver the continuous performance required for such demanding conditions,” he added.

“Selecting them for Diamba Sud ensures we mitigate operational risks from day one, while building a power foundation that can seamlessly integrate renewable energy assets as the mine evolves,” Fernandez continued.

Wärtsilä to support installation and commissioning

Wärtsilä’s scope includes the five engine generating sets, basic engineering and engine-specific auxiliary units.

The company will also supply the engine control and monitoring system and provide advisory support during installation and commissioning.

Wärtsilä said using several smaller generating sets instead of one large unit would allow the plant to respond more precisely to changing power requirements.

The configuration can improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and provide the flexibility required to balance future wind or solar power generation.

“This repeat order from APS reinforces Wärtsilä’s position as a trusted and reliable solution provider for the mining industry’s power needs,” said Marc Thiriet, Energy Business Director for Africa at Wärtsilä Energy.

“Mining operations are under dual pressure to maintain maximum uptime while actively charting a path towards decarbonisation,” he added.

“By deploying multiple smaller engine-generating sets instead of a single large unit, we enable the plant to match fluctuating load demands with high precision, maximising fuel efficiency and reducing emissions,” Thiriet continued.

Plant expected to begin operating in 2027

Wärtsilä will deliver the equipment in March 2027. The power plant is expected to become operational by the end of the year.

Fortuna Mining is a Canadian company developing the Diamba Sud Gold Project in Senegal.

The project is located in the Kéniéba-Kédougou Inlier, a region containing several major gold deposits in eastern Senegal and western Mali.