The first biomass power plant to be established under South Africa’s independent power producer (IPP) programme will be operated and maintained by a joint venture partnership company formed between ACTOM and another reputable local company, Lesedi Nuclear Services.
The biomass power plant under construction on a site adjacent to the Sappi Ngodwana pulp mill in Mpumalanga.
The first biomass power plant to be established under South Africa’s independent power producer (IPP) programme will be operated and maintained by a joint venture partnership company formed between ACTOM and another reputable local company, Lesedi Nuclear Services. Construction of the 25MW power plant on a site adjacent to the Sappi Ngodwana pulp mill in Mpumalanga is currently in progress and is due to commence operation in May 2021, with the Ngodwana mill supplying the biomass to fuel it.
The project for the power plant, which is owned by a consortium known as Ngodwana Energy, in which leading pulp & paper producer Sappi Southern Africa is among the shareholders, is part of Round 4 of the national Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).
The JV company, held 51% and 49% by ACTOM and Lesedi respectively, was awarded the five-year operation and maintenance contract at the end of September this year by KC Cottrell, the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the plant. The ACTOM business unit that will be directly responsible for the contract in conjunction with Lesedi in the JV company is John Thompson’s Industrial Watertube Boilers (IWTB) business unit.
The contract is one of the largest operation and maintenance contracts John Thompson has undertaken. The JV company will operate and maintain the entire plant, comprising the boiler, turbine and balance of plant. John Thompson’s IWTB unit installed the imported watertube boiler for the plant under a separate contract. Prior to the new power plant coming on stream the ACTOM/Lesedi JV will recruit a power plant manager to manage the operation and maintenance contract and will also assist KC Cottrell in selecting staff for the pre-commissioning and commissioning of the plant.
“At the same time we will be recruiting approximately 40 electrical and mechanical artisans and other staff and train them to perform all the work involved in operating and maintaining the plant in accordance with the contract requirements,” said Russell Warren, General Manager of John Thompson’s IWTB unit.
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