Geita Gold Mine
Ensuring quality power generation in remote locations
With our background in the field of power generation throughout Africa, Zutari was appointed to support AngloGold Ashanti as owner’s engineer on two recently completed power plants. The first was a 40 MW power plant at Geita Gold Mine in the Mwanza Region of north-western Tanzania, and the second was the 30 MW power plant at Siguiri Gold Mine in the north-east of the Republic of Guinea the following year.
“Our involvement stretched from design through construction to the final commissioning. The two power plants were designed to supply stable and reliable power for the future operation of the gold mines. These captive power solutions, which are quite common in remote African locations, are used where utility grids are either unavailable or unreliable.
Our role in the projects was to reduce technical risks, confirm that the plants met the owner’s requirements and had been constructed according to relevant engineering standards,” says Jansen van Rensburg, Zutari Principal Power Generation Engineer and Project Director.
“The electricity from the mines also supports local communities and it is rewarding to be part of projects that will serve African communities for years to come,” adds Van Rensburg.
High-efficiency Wärtsilä 32TS dual-fuel generators had been installed at both mines. In addition to reviewing the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) design, we performed risk studies and supplied oversight for factory testing, construction, commissioning and performance testing of both power plants.
“The electricity from the mines also supports local communities and it is rewarding to be part of projects that will serve African communities for years to come”
Zutari carried out electrical network integration studies to ensure safe and effective integration into the existing mine networks as well as designed the overhead transmission line from the power plant at the Geita Mine to the process plant, and the fuel supply system from the fuel depot to the power plant.
These power plant projects presented challenges that ranged from working in remote locations to the need to harness a wide range of technical expertise. Our multidisciplinary team provided support and oversight in areas of project management; mechanical, electrical, control and instrumentation (C&I), geotechnical, civil, and structural engineering; computer-aided design (CAD); health, safety and environment (HSE); quality control; project controls and planning; document control; administration; contracting; risk assessment; and construction.
*The Aurecon Africa business has been officially renamed Zutari as at 21 July 2020. Zutari acquired Aurecon Middle East on 20 November 2020.
