Energy sector solutions provider Wärtsilä reports that a 130 MW power plant it built in Malicounda, in western Senegal, is now fully operational and officially inaugurated by Senegal President Macky Sall.

The Flexicycle power plant is operated by energy company Matelec, which also undertook the engineering, procurement and construction of the plant; which will be maintained by Wärtsilä under a ten-year maintenance agreement.

Located in Mbour, 85 km south of Senegal’s capital Dakar, the plant is expected to deliver 956 GWh/y of power, which represents a 17% increase in the country’s power generation capacity.

The Malicounda power plant comprises seven 18V50 engines and a steam turbine, combining the advantages of a simple-cycle operation with the high efficiency of a combined cycle plant.

Its fast load-following power capability means the plant is ideally suited to maintaining system reliability and able to offer the flexibility needed as variable renewable energy is progressively added to Senegal’s power grid.

The plant will initially operate on heavy fuel oil but there is an option to convert the plant to run on locally-supplied gas from the nearby Greater Tortue Ahmeyim field, once it becomes available, further lowering the cost of energy.

The Malicounda power plant is a central part of the government’s Sénégal Emergent plan to strengthen the country’s emerging economy and provide electricity access to everyone by 2025.

It was one of the first public-private partnership projects in West Africa, involving the African Development Bank, Africa50, the Infrastructure Development Fund for Africa and Senegal State power utility Senelec, setting a model of cooperation to meet the continent’s growing energy needs.

Wärtsilä Energy Africa director Marc Thiriet says the company has a well-established footprint in Senegal, and that it is satisfying to see yet another “emblematic” power plant equipped with its technology now in full operation. “We are confident that this highly efficient plant will enable Senegal to reduce electricity production costs.”

Wärtsilä is a significant provider of power-generating equipment in Senegal, with 20 power plants contributing an installed capacity of 543 MW in the country.

With the Malicounda power plant included, 458 MW of this capacity is under Wärtsilä long-term maintenance agreements.