Barrick Gold + Wärtsilä

Wärtsilä supplied a 116 MW gas power plant for the Canadian gold mining company Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc.'s mine project in Nevada, USA. The plant was delivered to the customer under a turnkey delivery contract, and it comprises fourteen 20V34SG engines. The power station was started up in October 2005.

“Wärtsilä’s generator sets addressed our critical issues better than did simple cycle gas turbine technology,” said Larry Morasse, Construction Manager for Barrick. “The reciprocating engine technology demonstrated clear superiority in several areas: almost no water usage, minimal time required for startup, flexible load-following characteristics and price. In addition, Wärtsilä’s generators were more efficient in the hot, dry and high-altitude conditions at the project site in Nevada.” The engines will operate at an altitude of 1300 metres at the Barrick site without suffering de-ration, unlike traditional gas turbine technology.

Barrick’s Goldstrike property consists of an open pit mine, two underground mines and two large milling facilities. Barrick’s parent company, Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corporation, is a leading international gold mining company, with operating mines and development projects in the USA, Canada, Australia, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Tanzania.