The Khulna Power Company plant in Bangladesh and the Caracolito Power Plant in Colombia may be far apart geographically. However, these two plants have a common bond in that they have both recently celebrated 10 years of successful operations and management by Wärtsilä Corporation, a leading provider of operations and management services for power plants worldwide.
The Caracolito Plant in Colombia, which belongs to one of the world’s largest cement producers, contracted and installed in 1998 a 25 MW self-generation power plant. An operations and maintenance (O&M) agreement was also signed with Wärtsilä and the power plant started operation on September 30th, 1998. During the subsequent ten years there have been notable achievements, including the implementation of ISO 9000 in 1999, ISO 14000 in 2000, and Wärtsilä’s ‘Quality Work of the Year’ award in March 2001. The power plant maintains consistently high standards of efficiency that are reflected in the low cost per MW-hour. To date the plant’s five Wärtsilä 18V34SG generating sets have produced 1,500,000 MWh.
The 110 MW Khulna Power Plant is mounted on two barges next to the river Bhairab in the district of Khulna, Bangladesh. It is powered by 19 Wärtsilä 18V32LN generating sets operating on heavy fuel oil. The power plant began commercial operations in October 1998 under a 15-year O&M agreement between Khulna Power Company Ltd and Wärtsilä. Since that time the plant’s availability has been notably high, averaging between 98% and 99% for the period 1998-2007. It was selected as a model power plant for the region under an Asian Development Bank programme entitled “Oil Spill Impact and Response Management”. To date the plant’s nineteen Wärtsilä 18V32LN generating sets -have produced more than 6,000,000 MWh.
In comments related to the 10th anniversary celebrations of these two operations, Tage Blomberg, Group Vice President, Services said: “Wärtsilä’s successful ten-year record of operation and maintenance at these two power plants is clear evidence of our competence in this field. We look forward to continued success in efficiently operating these plants, and the many other Wärtsilä-operated plants around the world, for many years to come.”
Wärtsilä’s O&M agreement programme is designed to cover all aspects of operating and managing an installation, including O&M planning, day-to-day operation, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, administration, human resources and training, technical support, logistics management and security. This comprehensive programme enables the plant owner to focus on the company’s core business, whilst Wärtsilä ensures optimal plant performance throughout the complete operational cycle, from receiving fuel to supplying energy. Wärtsilä operates and maintains more than 130 installations across the globe.
For further information, please contact:
Maria Nystrand
Public Relations Manager, Power Plants
Wärtsilä Corporation
Direct tel: +358 10 709 1456
E-mail: maria.nystrand@wartsila.com
Wärtsilä Corporation in brief:
Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is achieved by the dedication of more than 17,000 professionals manning 160 Wärtsilä locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the Nordic Exchange in Helsinki, Finland.
www.wartsila.com
