- Three year agreement extension secures reliable electricity for a 60 MW mine power plant.
- Hybrid energy system combines solar power batteries and thermal generation.
- Outcome based contract aligns power plant performance with mine production targets.
Wärtsilä has renewed its operations and maintenance agreement with Tasiast Mauritanie Limited S A, a subsidiary of Kinross Gold Corporation of Canada, ensuring continued reliable power generation at one of Mauritania’s largest gold mining operations.
The renewed three year agreement covers the 60 MW power plant supplying the Tasiast mine and is designed to support safe and consistent electricity production in line with the site’s operational and production requirements. The contract was recorded in Wärtsilä’s order book during the second quarter of 2025.
Wärtsilä has been responsible for operating and maintaining the power plant since its commissioning in 2013. Following the expansion of the facility in 2022, the agreement was enhanced with an outcome based component that links performance delivery to the mine’s commercial and operational objectives, while promoting sustainable operations. This approach establishes shared responsibility between Wärtsilä and the mine operator in meeting agreed targets.
Located around 300 kilometres north of Nouakchott, the Tasiast mine is powered by an isolated hybrid energy system that integrates solar generation and battery storage. Wärtsilä’s power plant provides baseload capacity as well as spinning reserve, ensuring stability and reliability for the hybrid grid in a remote location.
According to Patrick Borstner, Director of Operations Africa at Wärtsilä Energy, the company’s operations and maintenance agreements are designed to cover all aspects of daily plant operations, maintenance and administrative services. By tailoring services to site specific requirements, Wärtsilä aims to deliver guaranteed performance and optimised lifecycle costs for its customers.
Wärtsilä originally supplied the power plant equipment in 2013 and completed a plant extension under an engineering procurement and construction contract in 2021. A further project is currently underway to install two additional Wärtsilä engines, reinforcing long term energy security for the mining operation.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
