Wrtsil and Musandam Power Company today joined investment and development partners in celebrating the laying of the foundation stone for a 120 MW Smart Power Generation power plant in the Governorate of Musandam, Northern Oman. The ceremony was held under the patronage of H.E Sayyid Khalifa bin Al Murdas al Busaidy, Governor of Musandam.

The power plant will play an essential role in delivering flexible and sustainable energy to the Governorate. The project will enable us to meet the power needs of current and upcoming projects in the region, as well as benefitting the local community, said Isam Al Zadjali, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Oil Company, the majority owner of Musandam Power Company.

The power plant will comprise fifteen Wrtsil 34DF engines, running mainly on natural gas. Light fuel oil will be used as back-up fuel. The multiple engine design enables ultra-flexible operations, such as responding to load variations between 10 and 120 MW. Wrtsil will deliver the power plant on a turnkey basis. It is scheduled to be fully operational in late 2016. The contract includes a 15 year long term service and maintenance agreement.

The project provides further proof of the competitiveness of engine power plants compared to traditional technologies. The power plant will offer operational flexibility, reliability and lifecycle value not to mention efficiency in harsh conditions, said Upma Koul, Business Development Manager at Wrtsil Energy Solutions. The engines are attuned to maintain top fuel efficiency in conditions of high humidity and extreme temperatures of up to 50 degrees.

Wrtsil is the global market leader in gas-fired combustion engine power plants with an 80 percent market share. Wrtsils installed capacity in the Middle East is approximately 7000 MW, and globally 58 GW.