Wartsila, Clough Get PNG Power Contract

Finland-based Wartsila, in partnership with Australia-based contractor Clough, has been awarded a turnkey contract to provide a 58 MW gas-fired power plant to Papua New Guinea.

The plant is being developed by Niupower, a venture between Kumul Petroleum Holdings and Oil Search Power Holdings. The order was booked in August 2017, Wartsila said December 4.

The plant will be located near Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, and will operate on six Wärtsilä 34SG engines running on natural gas. This will be the first ever utility scale gas engine project in Papua New Guinea, and will make a notable contribution to easing the carbon footprint of electricity generation in the country, Wartsila said.

Under the terms of the turnkey contract, Wartsila will provide the gas engines, generators and related auxiliaries, while Clough will be responsible for the remaining plant equipment, the installation, and the plant construction. The project is expected to be completed in late 2018.

Separately, Wartsila and French LNG membrane designer GTT said December 5 they finalised a cooperation agreement at the Marintec conference and exhibition in Shanghai, the aim of which is to explore potential business opportunities in the marine sector in relation to LNG storage, fuel gas supply systems, and associated services that will benefit both shipyards and vessel owners, thereby creating 'one-stop availability for onboard LNG fuel tank and supply systems.'