Finnish company Wartsila has signed an operation and maintenance (O&M) agreement with Bahamas Power and Light Company (BPL) for the 132MW power plant.
Wartsila built and delivered the power plant in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, which began its commercial operations in December last year.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Bahamas Power and Light Company CEO Whitney Heastie said: “Wartsila’s performance has been outstanding, and we are very grateful to the company for their support, professionalism and expertise in delivering and constructing the plant so quickly.
“We are now extending this cooperation through the O&M agreement, which will enable the plant to be expertly operated and maintained until such time as our own staff are trained to take over.”
The power plant features seven Wartsila 50 engines and generates power using heavy fuel.
Wartsila said that the engines installed in the plant can also be operated using gas when available and further reduce its operational costs.
According to the agreement, the company will be responsible for transitioning, training, and developing the workforce to manage new technology while also providing some key performance guarantees.
The electricity generated by the plant is expected to meet 50% of this year’s summer peak load on the island of New Providence.
Wartsila Americas North energy business director Mikael Backman said: “Lifecycle support to the customer is at the heart of Wartsila’s strategy, and the O&M agreement is an important part of that commitment.
“The efficiency of the Wartsila power plant will considerably lower BPL’s fuel costs, and the fuel and operational flexibility of the engines will deliver notable benefits.”
In July 2019, Wartsila secured an engineering and equipment (EEQ) contract to supply additional capacity for a power plant owned and operated by the national electricity technology company Kahraba.
