Technology group Wärtsilä will supply five Wärtsilä 32 engines for a captive power plant to be installed at the Diamba Sud Gold Project in Senegal. The 14 MW plant is required to ensure a reliable and efficient supply of electricity, which is essential for the mining project’s operations. Due to its remote location, the mine will depend solely on this plant for its power needs. The order was placed by Africa Power Services (APS), the France based main contractor for the engineering, procurement and construction of the power plant, on behalf of Fortuna Mining. It was booked as order intake by Wärtsilä in Q2 2026.
The project highlights the importance of dependable, flexible power infrastructure for mining operations located far from established electricity networks. A dedicated captive power plant will provide the Diamba Sud operation with greater control over its energy supply while supporting the continuous and energy-intensive requirements of gold mining activities.
The Wärtsilä 32 engine generating set has established a reputation for reliability during 30 years of successful operations, delivering more than 8,000 MW of energy to customers around the world. Its fast-starting flexibility supports the integration of intermittent supplies of renewable energy, such as wind and solar, into power systems by enabling efficient grid balancing. Fortuna Mining has indicated its intention to add renewable energy to this micro grid in the near future.
This planned transition towards a hybrid power system could allow the mine to progressively incorporate renewable generation while retaining reliable engine-based capacity to support operations when renewable resources are unavailable or fluctuate.
“Operating a remote, off-grid mine requires reliable power, as any unscheduled downtime carries financial and operational risks. Wärtsilä’s engines deliver the continuous performance required for such demanding conditions. Selecting them for Diamba Sud ensures we mitigate operational risks from day one, while building a power foundation that can seamlessly integrate renewable energy assets as the mine evolves,” says Cedric Fernandez, Managing Director at APS.
In addition to the engine generating sets, Wärtsilä’s scope includes basic engineering, engine specific auxiliary units, and the engine control and monitoring system. The company will also provide advisory support during the installation and commissioning phases.
The combination of equipment supply, engineering and commissioning support is intended to help ensure that the power plant is configured to meet the operational requirements of the mine from the start of commercial operations.
“This repeat order from APS reinforces Wärtsilä’s position as a trusted and reliable solution provider for the mining industry’s power needs,” says Marc Thiriet, Energy Business Director, Africa at Wärtsilä Energy. “Mining operations are under dual pressure to maintain maximum uptime while actively charting a path toward decarbonisation. By deploying multiple smaller engine-generating sets instead of a single large unit, we enable the plant to match fluctuating load demands with high precision, maximizing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.
Critically, these engines feature the starting flexibility required to balance the intermittent nature of solar or wind power, thereby complimenting Fortuna Mining’s future plans to introduce renewables to this microgrid strengthening the mines operational stability.”
The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery in March 2027, and the power plant is expected to be operational by the end of that year.
Once operational, the facility will provide the Diamba Sud Gold Project with a dedicated energy platform designed to support both current mining requirements and future changes in the project’s power mix.
Fortuna Mining is a Canadian mining company that is developing the Diamba Sud Gold Project in Senegal. Acquired in September 2023, the Diamba Sud Gold Project is located in the Kenieba – Koudougou Inlier, a geologically significant area, which hosts several major gold deposits in eastern Senegal and western Mali.
