Mining operations at one of the worlds largest high-grade graphite deposits located in Mozambiques Balama town are set to benefit from a boost in power supply
South Africa-based Zest Energy will introduce a generator plant, which will begin producing electricity in Q1 2017, with an initial capacity of 12.5MW powered by seven 2,200KW diesel generators (six operational; one standby).
Capacity will later be expanded to eleven generators, of which one will be on standby.
Alastair Gerrard, managing director of Zest Energy said, "The isolated location of the Balama mine – over 250km west of Pemba in Northern Mozambique – means that while the operation does have access to power from the national grid this will need to be supplemented to ensure an adequate supply for full plant demand."
Equipment for the power supply has been sourced from various Zest WEG Group companies, locally and globally.
The containerised power generators include WEG alternators with automatic voltage regulation systems, motorised louvres, generator auxiliary systems, fuel and lube tanks, and a horizontal-type radiator system rated at a 50-degree ambient temperature to cool the engines.
Diesel will be fed into the systems via a 30,000 litre intermediate fuel tank, linked to the customer's bulk storage system, with a duplex fuel filtration and circulation system.
