The Ministry of Energy, Water and Mines in Benin has contracted global power solutions leader APR Energy to provide 50MW of power generation using its fuel-flexible aeroderivative turbines in the country.
The turbines will be fuelled by natural gas with the ability to seamlessly switch to diesel on the basis of cost and availability.
APR Energy combines fuel-efficient technology and industry expertise to provide fast-track mobile turbine power through turnkey power plants to help run cities, industries and countries worldwide.
Company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Campion said, “We are honoured to assist Benin in its effort to become self-reliant when it comes to power generation.”
He added that domestically-produced power through the project will help Benin to grow its economy as it currently exports a significant portion of its electricity from Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
Most of the employees who will install, operate and maintain the plant will be hired from the local workforce, creating jobs in the West African nation.
APR Energy is a partner in the United States government’s Power Africa Initiative. With the Benin project, it will have installed over one thousand megawatts of generating capacity in 11 African countries since 2008.